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03.29.2021
St. Joseph, a descendant of King David, owned ‘Divine Wood Works’–a small carpentry workshop in Nazareth, in which he possessed a hammer, nails, a saw, a few tools, and pieces of wood. Initially, he worked alone. Later he had only one employee, Jesus–the one and only manpower for the shop.
St. Joseph is always pictured, wearing brown, and green coloured robes. Brown is the colour most poor working men wore at that time, and green personified his faithfulness to God’s call. His workshop stood small and simple. It had just enough space to work and earn a livelihood.
Divine Wood Works had no space for gossiping. The perfect ambience of silence pervaded the workshop. Genuine craftsmanship remained as Joseph carefully picked pieces of wood to brand windows, doors, and some home furniture. Perfection surfaced as he polished the carved wood.
Joseph proved ‘just’ while dealing with self and others. His virtue of ‘obedience’ simplified in following the will of God. Tranquillity expounded his silence, and this nullified all doubts and questions.
In a sheer example of simplicity, and great humility, God the Father could not resist but make him a perfect helper to the Mother of God, and the foster father to the God-Man.
Grounded in the mill of human work and human relationships, Joseph placed his deep faith, courage, and trust in God. He stepped out into the future with its risks and uncertainties to carry out the plan of God.
Sr. Laveena D’Souza
Tanmaya Province/India
