A new month begins today. We mark, we like to hope, the end of April showers and the gift of many colorful flowers --- even though our city of Washington has been ablaze with bright colors of tulips, azalea bushes and, for a wonderful change, a lengthy bright pink of our world famous cherry blossoms. Now many get serious about planting flower and vegetable plants.
We are truly dealing with change. Any change requires work.
The first reading, a selection from the Book of Genesis, invites us to recall the work of creation --- God's work in creating his earth and all that makes it more than a sphere. The feast the Church celebrates today, rather the Ascension Day in our Archdiocese, celebrates another worker, Joseph. The gospel recalls the work of Jesus as the preacher and teacher.
Work is meant to be a part of each person's life since Adam and Eve lost membership in the Garden of Eden. Today we might reflect upon our own work and how it can lead us to a closer relationship to God. That may be a challenge to some: to see a relationship to God strengthened by work.
Examine your life as a worker. Is that activity, your work, an avenue to the Lord? Do you see in your work the opportunity to use the talents God has given you to serve both your Creator as well as the community that is gifted by your talents?
