All work is sacred
When Pope John XXIII was asked, “How many people work in the Vatican?” he replied, “About half.” Today, while celebrating International Labour Day, we could reflect upon our work.
The Bible is a book by workers, about workers, for workers. The Biblical God is a tireless worker. God’s masterpiece is creation. After every creation God says: “It is good!” Finally, after creating wo/man in the divine “image and likeness”, God exclaims: “Very good!” and co-opts wo/man as co-creator in accomplishing Divine plans.
The Bible also portrays God as a potter who “formed man of dust from the ground” (Genesis 2:7) and fashioned a wife for him (vs.21-22); and as a gardener who “planted a garden” and watered it (vs.6,8). God “neither slumbers nor sleeps” (Psalm 121:4) but is busy protecting people. God’s “wonderful works” (Psalm 107:8,15,21,31) are seen in creation, protection and liberation.
Jesus inherits a tradition of toil. His foster-father, Joseph — whose feast is celebrated today as “The Worker” — is a carpenter and epitome of hard work. Jesus comes: “To do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work” (John 4:34). He says, “We must do the works of Him who sent me” (John 9:4) and “My Father is working still, and I am working” (Jn 5:17).
All work is sacred; we can serve God through it and in it. And, all works are meritorious. King Saul was not only a king but a farmer who ploughed his field (1 Samuel 11:5). David, his successor, was a shepherd; Peter, a fisherman and Paul, a tentmaker, who advises us, “Be ready for any honest work” (Titus 3:1).
I’m presently in Dadwada village, south Gujarat, surrounded by toiling tribals: women carrying pitchers of water and fodder for cattle on their heads; farmers levelling their lands for the forthcoming monsoons and govaliyas (shepherds) leading bleating herds for pasture.
The slogging and sweating of these friends will translate into rotis for my meals. I am grateful.
Through work, we transform our world and, our work transforms us.
If all work for eight hours a day and are paid a decent wage, there’ll be no need of bonus and baksheesh. By cutting the bonus of Vatican bureaucrats, Pope Francis reminds us that work is its own recompense — there’s no need for added reward.
Apostle Paul writes: “By toiling, one must help the weak” (Acts 20:35).
In India, too, often little children and the aged are forced to work — more out of necessity than out of choice. We must respond to this, respect every worker, and thank the Creator for creating us as co-workers to divinise our world. Let’s labour with love that no one may accuse us of working half, or half-heartedly.
Francis Gonsalves is the principal of the Vidyajyoti College of Theology, Delhi.
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