ONLY THROUGH THEM

PRAYER MOMENT 

Friday 1 May 2015, St Joseph the carpenter

ONLY THROUGH THEM

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “The laity are called in a special way to make the Church present and operative  in those places and circumstances where only through them can she become the salt of the earth.” (Vatican II, The Church, #33)

Reflection. The dignity and purpose of work and the rights of workers were expressed and struggled for in the past century and the Church felt she should emphasise that all work also has a goal beyond what we can imagine and describe. The feast of St Joseph the carpenter was part of her answer; the other part was to flesh out her thinking in the documents of Vatican II. Men and women have a beautiful calling to co-operate with God in the building of the New Jerusalem, the City of God, which begins here. Lay people are called to show the light, the salt, of the gospel in their work.  

Prayer. Lord, we thank you for the creativity we can share with you in building a new heaven and a new earth. Help us to see our work in this way and help those whose work is drudgery to raise their eyes to you and your purpose. Amen.

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