And I worked with my hands, and I still desire to work; and I earnestly desire all the brothers to give themselves to honest work.
Let those who do not know how to work learn not from desire to receive wages, but for an example and to avoid idleness.
God is still at work in the world through us.
Without work it is impossible to have fun.
HAPPY LABOR DAY to all those who work to make a living, who work because they love to keep busy, who love what they do so much that they do not consider it work, who are in a job they do not like but keep doing it anyway.
Happy Labor Day to all my retired/ refocused friends who remember their past work and are now enjoying mornings when they can sleep in, or those of us who enjoy staying up late at night without having to go to work the next morning. Praise God for work and leisure!
The words of St. Francis of Assisi quoted above come from an admonition of St. Francis to his followers/ brothers to appreciate the importance of honest work. (I’m not sure what dishonest work would mean in those days.) He certainly wanted them to work not just for wages but to be examples of serving others.
Certainly not to be idle or unwilling to help support and care for their brothers and the people who are around them that need help and care. That certainly gives me something to contemplate about at this time in my life as a Franciscan Sister. We like to say that we do not retire just move into a time of our lives where being becomes more of a focus, instead of doing. It’s not that we don’t work at all, the work takes on what in the spiritual realm is known as contemplation. Which leads to various levels of action.
When one no longer has the physical strength to do a previous job, there are many opportunities in the world around you to continue to stay involved with others.
There are opportunities out there, plenty of people, places, things, and events are out there (and sometimes right under your nose). There are plenty of chances out there to utilize the skills and knowledge you have gained throughout your life. These skills are much needed and appreciated in whatever capacity can be given.
“Volunteer” is the name of the game! As we move along in our elder years, we may experience a slowing of our mental abilities. We can still be an example to those around us by continuing to be a person of patience, love, endurance. Perhaps still enjoying a good sense of humor with those who care for us.
It was great to hear Pope Leo XIV’s comment on work at one of his recent Sunday afternoon speeches at the Vatican. He reminded us of all that, “God is still at work in the world through us.” Each of us has the capacity to do God’s work in people’s lives wherever we are.
We have gifts and talents that go beyond what we can even imagine when we are aware that God is calling us to do something, to relieve the needs of this world, no matter how difficult it may seem to be.
Watching the daily news challenges my contemplative/active self!
God help us! God help me!
St. Francis of Assisi Pope Leo XIV St. Thomas Aquinas It may be that in the Catholic church, our current pope took the name Pope Leo after Pope Leo XIII. Pope Leo XIII was the leader of the Catholic church during the difficult times of the Industrial Revolution. In 1891, he wrote an encyclical (an important letter) entitled Rerum Novarum, in which he provided a balanced, moral vision that rejected extreme ideologies and emphasized the protection of human dignity.
He was especially concerned about workers at that period of history. He spoke out in support of unions for workers.
As far as the quote above by St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the most brilliant theologians of his time, I’m not sure what he meant when he wrote that, “Without work it is impossible to have fun.” Does he mean that work enables us to have fun when we get away from work and pursue leisure?
Something worth thinking about this Labor Day as you go about work, contemplate, volunteer or stay active in whatever God has gifted you to do. ✲
