Dear Friends and Parishioners of Saint Jerome,
Pax Christi semper vobiscum!
During our Labor Day morning Mass, I preached about the dignity of work and its relationship with God’s creation. I simply observed in the past that many perceive work as an end to one’s existence. One’s worth is often measured by the daily routine, productivity, and compensation that an individual receives upon completion of a certain project. For this reason, the concept of work and its value, simply becomes an accommodation of a worldly standard that work is an end in and of itself, instead of considering work as an affirmation of the dignity of the human person. What made me say this pronouncement?
Well, we are all aware that our socio-economic status is motivated and influenced by money, political connections, achievements, and job stability. I think that there is nothing wrong with being motivated to earn money through dignified work. It is not wrong to relate to people of good social status in the community, especially when we are aware that they can lead us to a better fulfillment of our goals. There is nothing wrong to aspire to achieve one’s goal in life at a certain age. Most importantly, there is nothing wrong with finding the best paying job that suits a person. What I believe becomes spiritually challenging is when we become unaware of the importance of consecrating the day of the Lord (Sunday) as a moment to be physically and spiritually recharged for the sake of being more efficient and conscious of the dignity of one’s ability to be humanely productive.
I thought that Labor Day, though it is a civic holiday, was a good moment for us to call to mind our dignity and honor as God’s creatures who have been created in His image and likeness. Our ability to build, to generate, and to accomplish a certain project is an affirmation of our contribution to the building up of God’s Kingdom today. We are part of the world’s mysterious re-creation. That re-creation requires our energy and labor. We are instruments of God’s continuing project. Work is sacred. Therefore, if the human body uses energy to accomplish work, that same body needs to be reverenced and honored for having been involved in a divine activity – by giving our human body some rest. Our work accomplishments are indicative of our participation in God’s on-going re-creation. Everything that is divinely initiated of which we have participated is sacred. This recognition and reverence of our physical human body may be well expressed in our participation in the Breaking of the Bread whenever we are conscious of God’s presence among us who sowed in us the divine spark. Our participation in God’s creation becomes a reality through human labor. Our reverence to the day of rest is an expression of our gratitude.
In the second reading this weekend, Saint Paul claims that we are the Lord’s. Yes, our achievements are important. Our accomplishments are satisfying. In the end, it is God who inspires us and leads us to the place where we are today. Be grateful. Our gratitude is the best offering to God.
Sincerely in Christ and Mary,
