5 Sept 2022 – Labor Day Mass – Matthew 6:31-34

       In the ground breaking encyclical Rerum Novarum, the first major papal address on modern labor, Pope Leo XIII wrote this: “According to natural reason and Christian philosophy, working for gain is creditable, not shameful, to someone, since it enables that person to earn an honorable livelihood; but to misuse people as though they were things in the pursuit of gain, or to value them solely for their physical powers—that is truly shameful and inhuman.” Pope Leo XIII wrote this encyclical back in 1891 when the working conditions for much of the world were not very humane.  The pope felt that the Church needed to address the reality of the world at that present moment, to interpret that reality through the values of the Catholic faith.  This is not just an historical document; the words of Rerum Novarum are fresh and relevant today.  Pope Leo XIII addressed conditions that unfortunately still exist in the world, even though this encyclical was written more than 130 years ago.  

        As we hear Pope Leo’s words about the dignity of work, we celebrate Labor Day today.  What is Pope Francis saying about work today? Pope Francis adds to the tradition of Catholic Social teaching by stating that work "is fundamental to the dignity of a person.... Our work 'anoints' us with dignity, (it) fills us with dignity, (it) makes us similar to God... (It) gives one the ability to maintain oneself, one's family, (and) to contribute to the growth of one's own nation."  The Archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski, the Chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops adds to Pope Francis' comments by stating that: “Work helps us realize our humanity and is necessary for human flourishing. Work is not a punishment for sin but rather a means by which we make a gift of ourselves to each other and our communities.”

      Matthew’s Gospel states the Christian perspective that should be central to our life of faith, in which we sees everything in light of the reign of God: to seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. Labor Day is to be more than a vacation day for us, more than the end of the summer. The spirit of Labor Day gives us the chance to see how work in America matches up to the ideals of our Catholic tradition.  Catholic Social Teaching is to challenge us and to make us think.   Hopefully our reflection today during Mass on Labor day is doing just that.