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Faith and Work(s)

This is a summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily delivered at St. Charles on Labor Day Weekend, September 5, 2004

TODAY'S GOSPEL NEEDS some editing. I was in a group last week reading "If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot me my disciple." A parishioner objected, "I cannot reconcile this advice to hate with any conception I have of Jesus". This is a good illustration of the wisdom of our Catholic tradition that places as much emphasis on tradition as scripture. We need to filter the word of God through the wisdom of our church's faith history and our own conscientious understanding of the law of the Lord. It is clear that this passage reflects the Semitic style of exaggeration to make the point, "Put God first in your life."

This weekend of Labor Day celebrations call us to seek God and his law in the world of work. Hopefully not only sisters and priests but also all of us in some way can see our professions and careers as a vocation.

I was listening to my nephew last week talk about his discernment. He is here on an internship learning about democracy building in Francophone Africa. He is on a path to a legal profession like his father. However, he wonders if he is cut out for an office job. He wonders about opportunities for more direct contact with people. It may be a lot easier for me to listen to a 22-year-old raise questions about a well-beaten track than for his parents who pay the freight. However, we all know in our hearts that our work needs to correspond to the deepest instincts and values we hold, if our labor is to rise to the level of a "calling."

The scriptures speak of the sacrifice involved in following a call, the cost of discipleship.

Jesus offers very practical examples. To build a tower you need the money. Thanks to all of you for today's second collection, your pledge of redemption that sustains the construction of our community center.

Jesus says if you go to war you need the resources. It is strange that in our current war, as August's list of over a thousand injured soldiers attests, the cost is borne only by our military and uncounted Iraqis. It used to be that war was paid for by taxation. Now we are told we can have a war without taxes. The next generation will pay. Where is the shared sacrifice?

Today's Catholic Herald carries, in English and Spanish, Bishop Loverde's Labor Day Statement.

In specific ways he points to the ways we need to honor work by paying the cost.

"The minimum wage in the USA is $5.15 an hour. Congress has not increased this wage since 1997 although members of Congress have raised their own salaries six times during the same period. While those earning a minimum wage live below the poverty line, the average CEO of a major corporation earns $9.3 million in total annual compensation, or $4,470 an hour. No one who works full time should have to live in poverty or be homeless." The Bishop commends Arlington and Alexandria for passing a living wage ordinance and asks for their support by state lawmakers. He points out the need to strive for equality of pay among women and men and calls for a review of the obstacles placed in the way of immigrants.

Our tradition stands against all of the forms of cheap grace that feed on selfishness and self-indulgence. Our own interests need to make way for the sacrificial demands placed on us if we are to honor the service and work of others. Let us pay the price or at a minimum give better tips today.

As we approach the Lord's Table, let us recover the meaning of the time honored phrase, "The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass." With our gifts and sacrifice let us rededicate ourselves to work, a noble calling for ourselves and for all of God's unemployed and employed people.

  or  2004 Homilies