REFLECTIONS TODAY

While Jesus’ disciples usually address him as “Teacher,” yet, for his townmates in Nazareth, he is simply the carpenter’s son, alluding to the trade of his known father, Joseph. This could give us an insight into Jesus’ growing-up years. Somehow, he must have learned aspects of the trade from his silent and laborious father who must have inculcated in him the value and the dignity of work. Pope Francis says of work, “Work had goodness within itself and creates the harmony of things—beauty, goodness—and involves man in everything: in his thought, his actions, everything. Man is involved in work. It is man’s first vocation: to work. And this gives dignity to man. The dignity that makes him resemble God. The dignity of work” (Homily, 1 May 2020).

Let us pray, through the intercession of St. Joseph the Worker, that all those in working age may be given a worthy employment that will allow them to thrive as co-creators of God.

First Reading • Gn 1:26—2:3 (or Col 3:14-15, 17, 23-24)

Then God said: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground.”

God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them.

God blessed them, saying: “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth.” God also said: “See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants for food.” And so it happened. God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed–the sixth day.

Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed. Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing, he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.

Responsorial Psalm • Ps 90 [or 34]

“Lord, give success to the work of our hands.” or “Alleluia.”

Gospel • Mt 13:54-58 [or Jn 3:31-36]

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.