Holidays are refreshing and welcome breaks for the work force in our country. We especially enjoy what we call the three-day weekend (Saturday, Sunday, and Monday) however we may want to use that extra leisure time. When we speak about “labor” or “work” we may have different perspectives on the meaning of that activity. It may be helpful to reflect on the meaning and value and purpose of this God-given privilege and responsibility as we celebrate Labor Day 2017.
Work is a privilege, even though some people often see it more as a pain or punishment. Yes, work can be a burden; it can be stressful and even overwhelming at times, but maybe that is because of the way we look at it. A young agent working at a DMV location here told me recently, “Yes, the work here can be stressful and intimidating, if you let it be that way.” I was at her station to renew my driver’s license and I commented on how calm and peaceful she seemed in the midst of all the activity in that work place. Her approach to work, not to let the distractions and disturbances in the area unsettle her, showed me that she saw herself engaged in work that was a privilege, not a punishment, an opportunity, not a burden.
God gave us the ability to share in His work of on-going creation. Our gifts from God are our body, our mind, our heart, and our freedom, among many other particular gifts. In fact, all we are and all we have are gifts from God; all is gift! If we are grateful for these gifts, if we truly RECEIVE them graciously and gratefully, then using these gifts for the benefit of the common good of all will be for us an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Work is also a responsibility. We are stewards of God’s gifts to us as we are reminded in Matthew’s Gospel (10:7), “without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” For the common good of all, God has blessed each one of us with gifts, blessings to be shared. Our response (responsibility) to God for all that we have is to build up and enrich, protect and develop His world in order to witness and teach and praise the goodness of our Creator. God revealed dramatically that He is Creator, Lord, and Redeemer of this sacred space when He came to dwell among us in the flesh, in the person of Jesus. Our responsibility to this revelation of God is to live and act as dutiful sisters and brothers of Jesus, and therefore as faithful daughters and sons of our Heavenly Father. Our work reveals and builds up God’s creation, which we have come to know and proclaim as the “kingdom of God.” A monastic mantra throughout the Christian era speaks to us of this responsibility. The mantra or teaching is “Ora et labora,” PRAY AND WORK. This is a basic teaching and practice of contemplative religious life. Such a way of life is not only for monks and nuns to follow; it is also an invitation and a challenge to all God’s people who want to “...seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.” (Matthew 6:33)
Fr. Dennet