may day - with st. joseph the worker

It's May Day today - the first day of May, traditionally the day to celebrate workers and work. I think of Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, who is honoured today in the Calendar of the Saints. As I consider his life and ask God to show and teach me, I ponder on the thought that to Joseph, it must all have been a Big Mystery - but nevertheless, from the first appearance of the angel, he assented to God's direction.
As I think of Jesus growing up under Joseph's fatherly direction, Joseph must have taught Jesus his own traits, just as we all pass along our traits and habits, both good and bad, to our children. And so I believe we can say with confidence that, like Jesus, Joseph must have been a thoughtful, careful, devout man of faith; hard working, quiet, considering his actions, thinking before speaking - yet speaking out boldly when necessary. He definitely was deeply faithful: he must have KNOWN God well over his lifetime in order to have received the message from the angel and assented in this way. Later, he heard from God in a dream - and understood that it was God. He knew God's voice.
Overall, I come away with the knowledge that Joseph DID HIS PART even when he did not understand God's plan. I must do the same!

Anton Raphael Mengs (1728–1779), “The Dream of St. Joseph"