Parable of the Two Plumbers

'Childhood of Christ,' Gerard van Honthorst, 1620.

Written for the memoria of St. Joseph the Workman

There were two plumbers who had worked together for many years. One day a house they were working on collapsed from water damage. They both died. Presented before the throne of God the first was summoned. “My son, you have lived well, go and take your place in paradise alongside the angels and saints.” Then the second plumber was summoned. “My son, you have lived decently, but void of much love. Take your place in purgatory and in a dozen years you will be ready for paradise.”

The Lord as yet had withheld the light of knowledge from the plumber and so the plumber was surprised. “Lord, Lord, how can this be? I was a plumber like my companion. I went to Mass like my companion. I tried my best as a father and husband—granted my mistakes—just as my companion. I was honest in my work, I never cheated anyone. In outer form my life was near identical to my workmate and yet he goes directly to heaven and I to purgatory for so long?”

“Yes, what you say is true. Your outer life was hardly any different to your companion. Yet know this—he was a man of prayer. During the day, he would unite Himself with my Son, offering the work he did as a plumber as a sacrifice of love. Due to this good habit, do you know what his final deed in life was? Yes, my son, fixing a broken sewage pipe as were you; but more than this, this menial deed was offered to me in love in reparation for sinful souls, broken souls, and so he died in love, just as your companion lived and worked in love. Heaven is nothing but love, and so my son, he was ready to enter heaven. In him I saw the life of my Son as Workman and of Blessed Joseph repeated in a tiny but real way.

You however, you lived a life decent to the eye but where was your heart? It was with me on Sunday and when you prayed now and then, but during the day? No, your heart was not with me. Where were your works of love? I was ever beside you, a plumber at the ready, but you left me to work alone. How many acts, how many hours did you thus work almost in vain? Your honesty and wholesome desire to provide for your family rendered your work void of sin, clean in my sight as a basin new and polished. Yet love for me did not excite your work, it did not fill your deeds—your basin was clean, but empty in my sight. What you lack in love—a whole lifetime—you will gain in the purging flames of love my son.

Pray for workmen beneath that they might not repeat your mistakes and I will see to it that there will arise men and women who repair for your voids of love to hasten your purgation.”

***

Whatever you do, work from the soul, as if for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of inheritance. For the Lord Christ is the real master you serve. (Col 3:23-24).

May the Lord grant us the grace to work in love.

May all men and women discover in their work, the will of God and His abiding presence of love. 

May all those whose work is contrary to God's will, find pardon in God's mercy, be delivered from such works of darkness, and find wholesome employment that fosters their human dignity, that of others, and gives glory to God.

St. Joseph, Model of Workmen, pray for us.