“night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you”
Today’s gospel might make people feel like the world will come to an end tomorrow! Many of the early Christians thought so. St. Paul preached about it over and over, as did St. Peter. Many of the Christians got so worked up by the possible second coming that they disregarded any kind of work, both big and small.
This has continued even today. Many people feel that Jesus could come at any minute. While it is true that He could come at any point in time, that doesn’t mean we should stop doing what we are called to do. The Second Vatican Council plainly states this thought: “For they are forgetting that by the faith itself they are more obliged than ever to measure up to these duties, each according to his proper vocation.”[ii]
Where is our home? Heaven! So then, why should we worry about keeping our feet on the ground? We must work here on Earth to give glory to God and to provide for our friends, families, and those that God has put in our path. We are asked by God to work hard for His glory. If we cannot work hard in small temporal (earthly) matters how will we be able to work hard in large spiritual (heavenly) matters?
What are some things we can do to keep our eyes towards Heaven while keeping your feet on Earth?
Why do we have to work? Pope Saint John Paul II says in his encyclical Laborem Exercens, that by working, we are living out God’s will to “have dominion over the world”[iii] In an age of computers and machines doing the “work”, it is us humans that have to work to make these programs and machines. In other words, we still have to work to make things work for us. Our life is a work to accomplish – the work of God. In his encyclical Centesimus Annus, Pope John Paul II that we can begin to see our lives as “a series of sensations to be experienced rather than as a work to be accomplished.”[iv]
How is work good for us? How is it good for us spiritually? St. Jose Maria Escriva said that work is not a consequence of sin, but a law from God that binds us all together. “It is meant to fill our days and make us share in God’s creative power.” It allows us to earn a living and “at the same time, to reap ‘the fruits of eternal life.’”[v] “The Church is convinced that work is a fundamental dimension of man’s existence on earth.”[vi] There is a dignity in work. The Word became flesh, God became man, and as a man Jesus worked. He was a carpenter and was faithful to His temporal duties. The work of Jesus goes far beyond the temporal. Jesus says, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work.”[vii] As followers of Christ, the Christian should long to not only do well in temporal work, but to unite with the work of Christ, which is the will of the Father. Saint Paul tells us that we are God’s co-workers. “The one plants and the one who waters are equal, and each will receive wages in proportion to his labor. For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”[viii]
Why does God need co-workers? God does not need co-workers. God does not need anything. If a mother is baking a cake, she does not need help baking a cake, but she might ask or allow her daughter to help her. Why does she ask her daughter to help, when she does not need the help?The mother desires to share her good work with her daughter. In this sharing the daughter grows in relationship with her mother. The two become one in the work, in the experience. Her daughter also shares in the fruit of the work; she sees the joy as people enjoy the cake. The daughter also learns how to do the work of her mother, and thus once learning she can pass this work on to others. Saint Paul did the work of God, he was a co-worker, and thus he could share this work with others. This is why Saint Paul said, “be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions, just as I handed them on to you.”[ix]
What virtues do we gain from work? Work is an ordinary means for the development of virtues. The human virtues of manliness (and womanhood), constancy, tenacity, the spirit of solidarity, order, and optimism in the face of adversity are just a few of the virtues we gain from our work.
If we do not work, how is this harmful to us? To not work can lead us to grave sins. The deadly sin of sloth or laziness can bring about bad consequences. As it says in the book of Sirach, “idleness teaches much evil”[x] When we don’t work, we can become idle which can lead to many temptations and sins. We should not fall into procrastination and put off the work that must be done today. When we put off what must be done, we can become more complacent, lazy, scared, or nervous about the work that we are not doing. This can leave the burden on others or later give us more work than before.
When we have a due date for a big project, we should start working right away to make sure it is finished on time. Christ reminds us in today’s Gospel that there is a “due date” for this world. Are we working everyday to meet His deadline? Are we working out our salvation everyday?
How can someone connect his or her work/chores/duties with God? We should always be mindful that our time here on earth is not separated from God. Our work should always bring us closer to Him. We always have two bosses: the one in this world and God. When we connect our work with prayer, by praying before work everyday, by giving thanksgiving when we are finished with the day or a large project, and when we pray for perseverance in our struggles, we are connecting our work with God. St. Augustine said, “Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.” Never let any job be beneath you. We should always work hard, whether as a janitor or a CEO, because each job is vitally important to the whole.
How can I share my faith at my work? There are always opportunities to spread the Gospel and evangelize in the workplace. One can engage in friendly conversations, give a polite smile or greeting, lend a kind ear to listen, help others with their work, or pick up an extra shift. Another example is when someone who has to work weekends makes sure to take time out of their schedule to attend Sunday Mass. Working is important but should not come between us and the Sacraments; especially receiving holy communion at Mass.
STORY – Eight hours labor, Eight hours recreation, Eight hours rest
Each September, we celebrate Labor Day. Many people throughout history have fought for the dignity of labor and fought against labor abuse. Robert Owen from Wales had raised the demand for an eight-hour day as early as 1810. In 1817 he had formulated the goal of the eight-hour day and coined the slogan: Eight hours of labor, Eight hours of recreation, Eight hours of rest.
This idea by Robert Owen however was not a new idea. The Catholic King of England Alfred the Great who lived from 849-899 practiced three 8-hour segments of the day. He was a man of discipline who broke up his 24-hour day into three 8 hour periods, 8 hours for sleep and eat, 8 hours for reading, writing and prayer, 8 hours for business. Alfred is often called the Charlemagne of England, but perhaps Charlemagne should be called the Alfred of France. Both leaders have similarities and differences but Alfred surpasses Charlemagne in education (he could read and write) and in holiness.
STORY – San Isidro de Labrador (Saint Isidore the Laborer)
Saint Isidore gives us the greatest example of labor. He practiced a life of work and prayer. Icons of Saint Isidore picture him with two angels helping him push a plow. Many times the icons picture Saint Isidore standing and the angels pushing the plow without him. Saint Isidore would attend Mass daily without fail. Because he was faithful to Mass and prayer, this devotion caused him to be late to work. Through the grace of God, he was always about to complete all his work, even if it meant that angels did his work or assisted in his work. What does the following prayer of the farmer say about the dignity of work?
My farm is not where I must soil,
My hands in endless, dreary toil
But where, through seed and swelling pod,
I’ve learned to walk, and talk, with God.
“God's fundamental and original intention with regard to man, whom he created in his image and after his likeness, was not withdrawn or cancelled out even when man, having broken the original covenant with God, heard the words: ‘In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread’. These words refer to the sometimes heavy toil that from then onwards has accompanied human work; but they do not alter the fact that work is the means whereby man achieves that ‘dominion’ which is proper to him over the visible world, by ‘subjecting’ the earth. Toil is something that is universally known, for it is universally experienced. It is familiar to those doing physical work under sometimes exceptionally laborious conditions. It is familiar not only to agricultural workers, who spend long days working the land, which sometimes ‘bears thorns and thistles’, but also to those who work in mines and quarries, to steel-workers at their blast-furnaces, to those who work in builders' yards and in construction work, often in danger of injury or death. It is likewise familiar to those at an intellectual workbench; to scientists; to those who bear the burden of grave responsibility for decisions that will have a vast impact on society. It is familiar to doctors and nurses, who spend days and nights at their patients' bedside. It is familiar to women, who, sometimes without proper recognition on the part of society and even of their own families, bear the daily burden and responsibility for their homes and the upbringing of their children. It is familiar to all workers and, since work is a universal calling, it is familiar to everyone.
And yet, in spite of all this toil-perhaps, in a sense, because of it-work is a good thing for man. Even though it bears the mark of a bonum arduum, in the terminology of Saint Thomas, this does not take away the fact that, as such, it is a good thing for man. It is not only good in the sense that it is useful or something to enjoy; it is also good as being something worthy, that is to say, something that corresponds to man's dignity that expresses this dignity and increases it. If one wishes to define more clearly the ethical meaning of work, it is this truth that one must particularly keep in mind. Work is a good thing for man-a good thing for his humanity-because through work man not only transforms nature, adapting it to his own needs, but he also achieves fulfillment as a human being and indeed, in a sense, becomes ‘more a human being’.”[xi]
There are many who do not feel and believe they are connected to Jesus Christ. They may feel as if Jesus is very distant or “other”. Jesus was clothed humanity and in taking on humanity, He took on suffering, he took on work. At the very least all of humanity can have a connection an intimacy with Christ because He like us was human in all things but sin. Christ, like us, worked. Like St. Joseph, He was a carpenter by trade. Remember to ask for St. Joseph’s intercession, since he is the patron of workers.
What are our attitudes during work, schoolwork, chores or a job? Sometimes we work just to get the job done, or just to get money, is this the attitude, motivation or way God wants us to work? The seventh commandment says that we should not steal. If we do not work with diligence and obedience (the way God wants us to work) we are “stealing” both our employer’s time and money. It can sometimes be difficult to work with joy and to see a value, especially a spiritual value in work. We can pray, “Lord, may I think what you want me to think. May I desire what you want me to desire. May I speak as you want me to speak. May I work as you want me to work.”[xii]
Search: Pessimism of Working
Search: Called to Work in the Vineyard
[i] In Conversation with God pgs. 483-488
[ii] Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et spes, 43
[iii] Encyclicals of John Paul II pg. 172
[iv] John Paul II, Cenesimus Annus, 39
[v] John 4:36
[vi] Laborem Exercens
[vii] John 4:34
[viii] 1 Corinthians 3:9
[ix] 1 Corinthians 11:1-2
[x] Sirach 33:27
[xi] Excerpt from Laborem Exercens – Pope John Paul II (Work and Personal Dignity)
[xii] Blessed Pedro Castroverde