Page 97 - Reflections on St. Joseph

establishes priorities in everything: God comes first and on him, Joseph knows, everything
depends. Then comes his family. And there is also the right attention to work and customers,
to be served professionally. Love for God, for people and for things, exactly in this order.

Surely Jesus observed, from an early age, the behavior and virtues of Mary and Joseph. He
reflected himself in them and tried to imitate them in everything, according to his age, as the
evangelist says: "he grew in wisdom, age and grace before God and before men" (Lk 2:52). Being
a boy, it was natural that he followed his father to the workshop, taking an interest in the
various types of work that Giuseppe carried out, carefully observing and learning the correct
way to use the tools and to carry out precisely the jobs requested by the clients. Thus it was that
he learned the paternal profession, deserving the same title of carpenter that he had been his
father’s: "Is not this the son of the carpenter?" (Mt 13:55); and "Is this not the carpenter, the son
of Mary, brother of James, of Joses, of Judas, and of Simon?" (Mk 6: 3).

Our "work" is not carpentry, but the apostolate. We should dedicate ourselves to it
"professionally", with the "sweat of the forehead", as if the salvation of the world depended on
us. However, without arrogance or ill will, laziness and minimalism. But not even with greed
for better positions, as our Founder warns us "In the likeness of the great Patriarch Saint Joseph,
if you were to serve Jesus in menial and inferior jobs to those of Saint Peter, think that the
humble guardian of Jesus has a higher place in heaven than the great Apostle "(L 282). Having
the model of Saint Joseph always before our eyes, we will be able to do great good for souls and
first of all for ourselves.

To reflect: Am I dutiful, helpful, available? Or am I lazy, indolent, pessimistic in the work entrusted
to me? Do I offer myself lovingly and willingly to help my brothers? Am I creative in the office that has
been entrusted to me? Do I work to make my superiors praise and appreciate me, or above all do I seek
to do the will of God? Am I cheerful and happy in my office? How do people see me?

Reflections on st. joseph 73