Monday, September 7, 2015

Homily: Labor Day 2015 - "Becoming more human"



For over a century, Americans have celebrated Labor Day on the first Monday in September. This national holiday was established in the 1880s for two reasons: to mark the irreplaceable role of the American worker in making this country prosperous and strong; and to have time to attend speeches and events on the spiritual and educational aspects of work, the worker and the good that comes from work.

Likely, not many of our contemporaries will be focusing on the spiritual meaning of work today, they simply see today’s civic holiday as a celebration of not having to work. 

In 1981, Pope John Paul II issued an encyclical titled “Laborem Exercens”—On Human Labor.  Laborem Exercens is just one encyclical in the long line of Catholic Social Teaching by our Popes in modern times, of which Pope Francis’, “Laudato Sii” is the most recent Social encyclical.
John Paul wrote that Human work is a fundamental dimension of man’s existence on earth.  In the very first words of the book of Genesis, our Creator tells man to “be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.”  Through work, we earn our daily bread, and are able to provide for ourselves and our loved ones. 

Work is not merely a necessary evil. St. John Paul said, “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 fulfilment as a human being and indeed, in a sense, becomes "more a human being".”

The saintly Pope recognizes here that without God man loses his way, falling into sin, misusing the things of earth, abusing his fellow man, evil causes us to be less human, sin dehumanizes us.  But when our priorities are straight, when we are in right relationship with God, when we work to glorify God, then we regain and develop our authentic selves—we become more human.

Becoming more human requires work.  Being human, being good to each other, being virtuous, building a just society, fulfilling our religious obligations to God requires work. 

Three years ago on Labor Day weekend I had the great honor of celebrating the Wedding of my little sister.  The day before the wedding, a parishioner came into the office and said,  “Father, you look happy,” she said.  “Well, I should be,” I said, “tomorrow I get to celebrate the wedding of my beautiful and dear sister Ashley.”

“That’s wonderful, Father,“ she said.  “My husband and I got married 46 years ago on Labor Day weekend, too!  And that’s what it’s been, Father.  46 years of Hard Labor!  But Father, I love him more today, than on the day I married him”

I told that little story at my sister’s wedding on Saturday, and tried to emphasize that important lesson: that holy, healthy, happy marriage takes work—it’s a real effort—a labor of love.
Perhaps, we do well today to recognize some areas in our life where we have grown slothful, where have I failed to labor for the good of my soul, the good of my fellow man, my family.


May this Labor Day be a time of rest for workers, but also a time of reflection, that workers can ensure that their priorities are in check, that they are serving God rather than themselves, that they are setting good Christian example to their fellow workers in their speech and in their deeds.  May all of our workers be strengthened in Spirit this day, for the Glory of God and Salvation of souls. +++

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