Does God work? Genesis tells us “God finished His work.” “He rested from the work He had been doing.” This picture of God working gives us a human picture of God bringing into being all creatures of our world. On the last day, God rested. Was God tired? Through His working and resting the image of our God comes very close to us.

Jesus certainly worked. He was a carpenter, an artisan. For almost thirty years Jesus earned His living and supported His mother, and maybe Joseph too He knew the anxiety of upkeeing His house, making ends meet, or paying taxes. Certainly it was Joseph who taught Him this.

Why a feast to honour St Joseph as a worker? The Church saw that honouring the worker and work is good because work is noble, and can be our means of becoming holy. So in our celebration today we see Jesus, the all Holy One, working with His hands.