Labor Day Reflections on Scriptures for the Day, Sept. 7, 2009 Lectionary # 437

Scripture: Monday of 23 week (Labor Day, 9/7/09) Lectionary # 437.
Colossians 1:24-2:3. Psalm 62: 6.7-9. Luke 6:1-6.

Labor Day is a welcome to a day of thanksgiving for the gift and duty of
labor. John Paul II has extolled the dignity of work in his encyclical
"Laborem Exercens." In the Scriptures for the continuous readings there
are some thoughts that lead us to think about work. We see Jesus working a
healing on a Sabbath when work should not be done, yet, there are
exceptions which he time and time again demonstrates. "Ths Sabbath is made
for man, not man for the Sabbath." He also tells us in John's Gospel, "My
Father works till now, and I work." (John 5:17).
We hear Paul telling us: "To make everyone complete in Christ I work and
struggle, impelled by the energy of his which is so powerful a force in
me." Then the Psalmist praises God for the rest that comes after work
(something we celebrate on this day): "Only in God is my soul at rest, for
from him comes my hope. He only is my rock and my salvation."
Paul is emphasizing the mystery of God's salvific plan throughout history
which is manifested in the redeeming love and sacrifice of Jesus, the Son
of God. It is through this mystery that hope is strengthened so that one
can reach completion in Christ. Paul also speaks to us as we read in the
ending of today's first reading, "I wish your hearts to be strengthened and
that you be closely united in love, enriched with full assurance of your
knowledgd of the mystery of God---namely Christ-- in whom every treasure of
wisdom and knowledge is hidden."
We should take some time to recall John Paul II's three purposes of work:
first, to make a living; second, to be able to express and fulfill oneself
through work and finally the social contribution work makes for society.
John Paul tells us, " ...the basis for determining the value of work is not
primarily the kind of work being done, but the fact that the one who is
doing it is a person. The sources of the dignity of work are to be sought
in the subjective dimension (that of the person) , not in the objective
one."
Lesisure and contemplation can be the result of work once it is done with
dignity and when the work itself is seen as dignified. We therefore thank
God for the gift of Labor Day and for all who are working as stewards of
God's ongoing creation in work and as it leads us to be creative agents of
God's work of redemption. Amen.