“Why do you stand here idle all day?”
In a world full of disasters, fear, war, hatred, cynicism, and down right negativity at times the work in the field can seem impossible. We know though that “Nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37) This “vineyard” must be worked and we must do so with optimism, since Jesus chose us to work the vineyard
What is laziness? Laziness is associated with the sin of sloth. Sloth is the “sluggishness of soul or boredom because of the exertion necessary for the performance of a good work. The good work may be a corporal task, such as walking; or a mental exercise, such as writing; or a spiritual duty, such as prayer.” [1]
The beatitude that is opposite of the sin of sloth is “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.” Usually when we are slothful it is an attempt to satisfy ourselves by not working, “vegging” out in front of the TV, internet or a movie, eating, etc. Can we really satisfy our self by doing those things? Sloth is an attempt to satisfy self, we must trust in God to satisfy us and so live out the beatitude, hungering and thirsting for righteousness. This hunger and thirst means that we will have to work and exert effort.
The Saints are very clear that idleness and the work of Satan are connected. Saint Benedict says, “Idleness is the enemy of the soul.” [2] “The principal trap that the Devil sets for young people is idleness. This is a fatal source of all evil. Don’t let there be any doubt in your mind that man is born to work, and when he doesn’t do so, he’s out of his element and in great danger of offending God.” [3] We can think of it this way. If an employer was seeking a person for quite some time and encouraging the person to work for them and the person not only ignored them, but also went to work for another, the employer would be offended. God has been seeking us for quite some time and encouraging us to work for him, have we ignored Him, have we worked for Satan? We might think it a little extreme to say we work for Satan, but to work for self and ignore God is to work for Satan!
The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal pray the “Prayer of the companions of Saint Francis of Assisi” each day after Mass. In this prayer is a reminder of how idleness is an obstacle to God. One portion of the prayer says, “we are lukewarm because of our sloth, languid because of our idleness, half-alive because of our negligence.” In the book of Revelation, Jesus says to the Church in Laodicea, “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16) Cold water is useful, for lemonade and many things. Hot water is useful, for coffee and many things. Jesus is saying that we must be useful. Sloth prevents us from being used in the vineyard. To be languid means to show not physical exertion or effort and therefore we are idle, doing nothing. When we neglect or rather ignore the call of God to work in the vineyard, which is easy to do if we are not praying daily, we are half-alive. This is contrary to the mission of Jesus who said, “I have come that you might have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) The goal therefore is to be busy for God, busy in prayer, busy in work. Stay busy! “Always be doing something worthwhile; then the Devil will always find you busy.” [4] What are things that are worthwhile? Anything that is not against God is for God. We can do almost anything, especially if we ask the question, “Is this activity pleasing to God and not in excess?” We can also keep in mind the motto of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, which is the motto of the Jesuits, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam ‘For the Greater Glory of God.’
How can we do anything in the field? “This is the field in which the faithful are called to fulfill their mission. Jesus wants them, as he wants all his disciples, to be the ‘salt of the earth’ and the ‘light of the world’ (cf Matt 5:13-14)” [5] When gazing upon our field we can begin to get discouraged really quickly. We could even start to whine and complain. However, “The Lord is not interested in useless complaining which shows a lack of faith. Nor does he want us to have a negative or pessimistic outlook on the people and circumstances around us.” [6]
Where do we even begin to work? Looking at such a daunting project this is a valid question. The first place to start working is in the family. Our families are what will sanctify us and prepare us to work out our salvation when we head into our vocation and jobs. Think of a time when you had a large project to do. What did you start with first? Why did you choose that route? Why would Jesus want to have us start with our families?
Jesus asks us, “Why do you stand here idle all day?” What is our answer? We may be very active in this world with many activities but spiritually are we idle? Maybe we feel that we are of no use to God, His Church, His Kingdom and maybe we respond that “no one has hired us.” He replies to us, “You too go into my vineyard.”
What does this parable tell us about the Sacraments? God is calling us. He calls us at Baptism. He calls us at first Communion. He calls us at Confirmation. These specific Sacraments are called the Sacraments of Initiation. Confirmation is a call to no longer remain idle but to enter the vineyard. “The lay apostolate, however, is a participation in the salvific mission of the Church itself. Through their baptism and confirmation all are commissioned to that apostolate by the Lord Himself. Moreover, by the sacraments, especially holy Eucharist, that charity toward God and man which is the soul of the apostolate is communicated and nourished. Now the laity are called in a special way to make the Church present and operative in those places and circumstances where only through them can it become the salt of the earth.” [7] How do we participate in the saving mission of the Church? How do we personally make the Church present? Are there certain places and people whom you can take the Church to, that other people cannot? How do we make the Church present and operative in places that it would not necessary already be or even be welcomed? We can think of the Internet, social networking and how to evangelize online. We also can think of places like schools, sports teams, etc. that have pushed God out and not welcomed prayer or the talk of God.
When should I get started? With any project there is a deadline. With our work in the vineyard, our “deadline” is when we die. Although this may seem like quite a long time, in the greater scheme of things, our lives go by very quickly. Many times people will wait on the sidelines until something better comes along or a better circumstance comes along. “We must not wait for imaginary ‘better opportunities.’ We have the graces necessary to do an effective apostolate wherever we are. This fact should be the basis for our optimism.” [8]
What if we see little to no progress being made? Remember in the first reading of Isaiah that the Lord’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours. We may never see the fruits of our work while we are alive. However, we must remember, “from eternity God has thought of us and has loved us as unique individuals. Every one of us he called by name...However, only in the unfolding of the history of our lives and its events is the eternal plan of God revealed to each of us. Therefore, it is a gradual process; in a certain sense, one that happens day by day.” [9] Even when we do not see the growth but only the opposition to our work, we can never get discouraged.
What if we fail? If we are working for the glory of God and have complete faith and trust in Him then we can never fail. “Don’t let discouragement enter into your apostolate. You haven’t failed, just as Christ didn’t fail on the Cross. Take courage! ...Hold your peace. Be calm... God has very few friends on earth. Don’t yearn to leave this world. Don’t shy away from the burden of the days, even though at times we find them very long. [10]
[1] Fr. John Hardon, S.J.; Modern Catholic Dictionary; page 509
[2] Paul Thigpen; A Dictionary of Quotes from the Saints; page 123
[3] Saint John Bosco; Paul Thigpen; A Dictionary of Quotes from the Saints; page 124
[4] Saint Francis of Assisi; Paul Thigpen; A Dictionary of Quotes from the Saints; page 123
[5] St. John Paul II, loc cit, 3
[6] In conversation with God 5, 10.3
[7] From Lumen Gentium, Dogmatic Constitution of the Church Pope Paul VI – 1964; Chapter IV, section 33.
[8] In conversation with God 5, 10.3
[9] St. John Paul II, loc cit, 58
[10] St. Jose Maria Escriva, The Way of the Cross, Thirteenth Station, 3