Work: God’s gift and the path to holiness

On May 1, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, we celebrate Labor Day. On this occasion, we reflect on the importance and value of human work, also in religious life. Work is a gift from God, and in order to be fully realized, the person needs a dignified job, fairly remunerated and, above all, carried out with love.

From the very first chapter of the Bible, God is presented to us as a worker: for six days he creates the world and “on the seventh day he rested”. This means that he has given us the task of working to improve the world, to obtain our sustenance and also to learn to rest. We must dedicate more time to work than to rest, but the latter teaches us not to absolutize activity and to reserve moments to be with God, family, brothers and sisters and friends.

Fairness and accountability at work

The moral dimension of work leads us to remember the seventh commandment: “Thou shalt not steal” (Mt 19:18), which forbids taking or retaining what belongs to others. How sad it is to see that, night after night, the newscasts show robberies in various places in Lima and Peru! The population is fed up with delinquency, and although it is not correct, it is not strange that some take justice into their own hands, tired of impunity.

Any form of unjustly appropriating or retaining the property of others is contrary to this commandment: deliberately keeping borrowed goods or lost objects, defrauding in trade, paying unjust wages, or speculating with prices by taking advantage of the need or ignorance of others.

Loving work, offering it to God

We should not see work as punishment, oppression or a mere means to earn money. It is the way by which we collaborate with God in the work of creation. Through it, we offer our life to the Lord and serve humanity. Although certain professions are socially valued more highly than others, all honest work is worthy: whether it be that of the street sweeper, the mechanic or the professor.

Work is an opportunity to develop one’s own personality and, often, the only means to support a family. How sad it is to see those who only wait for the end of the month to get paid, because they hate their work! Work must be done with a good disposition and, whenever possible, with joy.

The work well done is the one that is done with love. To value one’s profession or trade is the first step to dignify it and elevate it to the spiritual plane. St. Joseph teaches us to love this daily work, at home, in the office, in the field or in the street. Human work comes from persons created in the image of God and called to prolong, united and for mutual benefit, his creative work. St. Paul expresses it clearly: “If anyone is unwilling to work, let him not eat” (2 Thess 3:10).

Work honors the gifts of the Creator and the talents received. By bearing their weight in union with Jesus-the carpenter of Nazareth and the crucified one of Calvary-we collaborate, in a certain way, with the Son of God in his redemptive work.

Fair wages and social commitment

Each person should be able to obtain from work the means to live in dignity with his family and to render service to the community. A just wage is the legitimate fruit of work. To deny it or withhold it constitutes a grave injustice (James 5:4). In determining an adequate remuneration, both the needs and the contributions of each worker must be considered.

The Second Vatican Council affirms:

“Work should be remunerated in such a way as to provide opportunities for man and his family to live their material, social, cultural and spiritual life with dignity, taking into account the task and productivity of each individual, the conditions of the enterprise and the common good” (GS 67:2).

It is also unfair to evade social security obligations. In many cases, people avoid submitting invoices to avoid paying IGV (General Sales Tax), but this practice deprives the State of fundamental resources to build hospitals, schools and infrastructure. Tax evasion is a form of social theft.

The holy leisure of the religious

According to what has been said, the Augustinian Recollect religious will always work, until death. With retirement, he may leave certain offices because he no longer has the strength or preparation, but he will continue to be active in other tasks at the service of the community or of the faithful. He will gradually leave material occupations(negotium iustum) to dedicate himself more to contemplative rest(otium sanctum), following the example of St. Augustine.

Working for love, serving with joy

Our work, in addition to ensuring our family’s sustenance, enables us to help the poor. As Jesus said: “To those who ask you, give; to those who want to borrow something from you, do not turn your back on them” (Mt 5:42). Christ will recognize his chosen ones for what they have done for those most in need.

Let us present to God our heart and our efforts. St. Augustine puts it this way:

“Let us all present our hearts to God so that he may see them, and let us do our work with enthusiasm. Let us not offend the one who hires us, so that we may receive our reward with a high forehead” (W 49:2).

And also:

“The work of those who love is by no means tiring, but it delights, as happens to those who hunt, set nets, fish, gather grapes, trade, or delight in any game. It is therefore of great interest what is to be loved. For in what one loves, either one does not work, or one loves work” (BV 21:26).

May each one of us, from our work place, be a witness of God’s love and a sower of hope in a world that is so much in need of honest effort, social justice and generous dedication. Working with love and joy is a concrete form of daily holiness. May St. Joseph the Worker intercede for all the workers of the world.

Ángel Herrán, OAR