"Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life." (John 6:68)
Thursday of the Second week of Easter
Saints of the day: St. Joseph the Worker
Saint Joseph the Worker
Today's is also a wonderful occasion to reflect on the importance of work in the life of the human person, the family and the community.
The human being is the subject and the primary agent of work, and in the light of this truth, we can clearly perceive the fundamental connection between the person, work and society. Human activity - the Second Vatican Council recalls - proceeds from the human person and is ordered to the person. According to God's design and will, it must serve the true good of humanity and allow "man as an individual and as a member of society to cultivate and carry out his integral vocation" (cf. Gaudium et spes, n. 35).
In order to fulfil this mission, a "tested spirituality of human work" must be cultivated that is firmly rooted in the "Gospel of work" and believers are called to proclaim and to witness to the Christian meaning of work in their many activities and occupations (cf. Laborem exercens, n. 26).
May St. Joseph, such a great and humble saint be an example that inspires Christian workers, who should call on him in every circumstance. Today I wish to entrust to the provident guardian of the Holy Family of Nazareth the young people who are training for their future profession, the unemployed, and those who are suffering from the hardship of the shortage of employment, families and the whole world of work, with the expectations and challenges, the problems and prospects that characterize it.
(John Paul II - General audience, Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Wednesday, 19 March 2003)
Thursday of the Second week of Easter
Acts of the Apostles 5:27 When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. 32 We are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and determined to kill them.
Psalms 34:2 My soul shall boast in Yahweh.
The humble shall hear of it, and be glad.
9 Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints,
for there is no lack with those who fear him.
17 The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears,
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart,
and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but Yahweh delivers him out of them all.
20 He protects all of his bones.
Not one of them is broken.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 3:31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness. 33 He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. 36 One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys [a] the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
Footnotes:
a. John 3:36 The same word can be translated “disobeys” or “disbelieves” in this context.
Thursday of the Second week of Easter
Commentary of the day:
Saint Irenaeus of Lyons (c.130-c.208), Bishop, theologian and martyr
Against the heresies, IV, 37
"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life"
God made man a free agent... to obey the behests of God voluntarily, and not by God's compulsion. For there is no coercion with God, but a good will towards us that is present with him continually. In man, as well as in angels, he has placed the power of choice... And not merely in works, but also in faith, God has preserved the will of man free and under his own control, saying: “According to your faith be it done unto you” (Mt 9,29). Thus he shows that there is a faith specially belonging to man, since since it arises out of his personal decision. And again: “All things are possible to him that believes” (Mk 9,23), and, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so be it done unto you” (Mt 8,13). Now all such expressions demonstrate that man is in his own power with respect to faith. And for this reason: “He that believes in Him has eternal life while he who believes not the Son has not eternal life” (Jn 3,36)... But he should not, people say, have created angels of such a nature that they were capable of transgression, nor men who immediately proved ungrateful towards him; for they were made rational beings, endowed with the power of examining and judging, and were not formed as irrational things or of a merely animal nature... But upon this supposition, the good would have no attraction for them, nor communion with God be precious. What is good would not be very much be sought after since it would present itself without their own proper endeavor... The good would be implanted in them of its own accord and without their concern... If men were good by nature rather than by will, they would not understand this fact, that good is a comely thing, nor would they take pleasure in it. For how can those who are ignorant of good enjoy it? Or what credit is it to those who have not aimed at it? And what crown is it to those who have not followed in pursuit of it?... The harder we strive, so much the more valuable it is; while so much the more valuable it is, so much the more we will esteem it.
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