Dignity in Labor (Feast of St Joseph the Worker, May 1, 2021)

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Ask a child what he/she wants to be or do in future, and it will interest you to hear him/her rattle off a litany of "mouth-watering" professions: I want to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, etc. Suggest a "menial" job like subsistence farming or a roadside mechanical work, etc, and the responses you will get will help you understand how skewed our pattern of thinking has become especially with reference to career or job appreciation.

 

We have grown used to thinking in such a manner because the society has constrained us to think like that. In our society, certain jobs are described as “menial” jobs: "menial" in the sense that such jobs are demeaning, uninteresting and confer low social status on those who do them. Those who do such jobs are literally looked down upon. Again, in our society, certain jobs are described as "white-collar" jobs (such as medical, legal and other professional jobs) and those who do them are held in high esteem. This is a skewed mentality which partly explains why a good number of people are jobless today. It is not just because they can't get work but because they think and feel that certain jobs are demeaning or menial. Such people will prefer to remain idle instead of engaging themselves with the so-called "menial" jobs. The earlier we move away from this pattern of thinking, the better for us.


When we begin to look at "WORK" from God’s own perspective, then it will be very clear to us that our skewed mentality or biased attitude towards certain jobs/works is a direct affront on God Himself. In Genesis 1:3-2:3, it is directly implied that God WORKED as He created the world. Through WORK, He created the entire universe. And by that very process, every acceptable work has received a divine stamp of excellence. Work should no longer be seen as a demeaning venture; but should now be understood as something divine or sacred. And we should never in any way disparage or look down on anyone on account of his or her job (inasmuch as the job is morally acceptable).


In Matt. 13:54-58, we see an attitude of a people with a skewed mentality or attitude towards work. Jesus' country people wrote Him off because he was a carpenter or a son of a carpenter. On account of humble background as a son of a carpenter, many took him for granted and didn’t believe in Him.


When we begin to understand work as a participation in the divine life (in the creative life of God), then our apprehensions, reservations and biases towards certain works will naturally melt away. The Church honors St Joseph as the Patron of Workers because of his special dedication to his carpentry job. His society might have seen carpentry as a demeaning job; but he saw it as a special opportunity to participate in God’s creative life; giving it all his best.


As we celebrate him today, we all should now understand that whatever we do as work (insofar it is morally acceptable) is a sort of participation in the creative life of God. And so, this day is a special day for all of us (whether we sweep the paths or cook or work in the office, etc): WE ARE ALL WORKING. And it will do us a whole lot of good if we pay a keen attention to St Paul who says: "WHATEVER YOUR TASK, WORK HEARTILY, AS SERVING THE LORD AND NOT MEN, KNOWING THAT FROM THE LORD, YOU WILL RECEIVE THE INHERITANCE AS YOUR REWARD..." (Col. 3:23-24).


Prayer:

Through the intercession of St Joseph the Worker, may God help us cooperate with Him in the different tasks He has called us to do, Amen!


A Restful Weekend! 


Happy New Month!




Happy Workers' Day!

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