Historic St. Joseph Church

 

WELCOME TO HISTORIC ST. JOSEPH CHURCH

 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sent On A Mission

My brother who retired from the Navy after twenty-two years shared a story with me just recently. He knew a young man who had graduated from the Officer’s Candidate School in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  As a private this person had been assigned to the kitchen police. They has been up to their necks in work when a colonel dropped in and asked, “How are things going?” When they told him it was really rough, the colonel pulled on a work suit and pitched in to help. He showed them that even a colonel was not too high and mighty to help in the kitchen. Naturally the men loved a leader like that.

 We just read that Jesus came to the help several of the Apostles. They made their living by the rough and exhausting labor of fishing. They were catching nothing. Jesus told them to throw out their nets again. Miraculously, they caught so many fish that their two boats were sinking. Jesus wanted to show them that they were to catch men as they caught fish, but there is another important lesson in this story, namely that Jesus is interested in the work of us, His followers.   He is ready and willing to help everyone who works hard.

 Jesus himself worked hard. As a carpenter He knew what it meant to get tired and hungry and thirsty. He knew what it meant to get dusty and dirty. He knew how it felt to be discouraged, to be concerned about making a living. That is one reason He was so interested in the working people — farmers, carpenters, fishermen, shepherds, workers in the vineyard. He knew their life. He lived their life. Jesus is interested in those who do most of their work with muscle and brawn.

 Today many of us must work with our brains more than our brawn. That, too, is tiring and taxing. One can get weary behind a computer, at a machine or a teacher’s desk. Doctors and nurses and lawyers can be tired in mind and body. Jesus also knew how hard that kind of work is because He did much of it. He wore many hats, you could say! 

 What St. Paul boasts in today’s second reading, Christ could also say of Himself: “I have worked harder than all the others” (1 Cor 15:10).  The words of the response should be ours, “When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me” (Ps 138: 3).  

  Like the colonel in our story, Jesus stoops down to help us. May the Master inspire us to do our work — with Him and for Him.  

Retreat Master: Deacon John Ruscheinsky
Reflections following the Daily Liturgical cycle.