The Dignity of Work

    God was the first worker. He created everything. The world was made perfect by God for man. He commanded them to be stewards of creation. However, man disobeyed God. As a result, they were punished. Part of their punishment was to till the soil. In other words, they have to work for their living. Not that they will not do anything before, but this time, their labor includes a penance for the disobedience they had done.

Fast forward.... God, in order to save man, decided to become one like us in Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Word made flesh, would be born of the virgin and live in a family with Joseph as His foster father. Joseph was a carpenter. He had to work to fend for his family. Most probably, Jesus was also taught to do carpentry and helped His father. Work, which was a punishment before had recovered its original dignity. God could have assigned Jesus to a rich and powerful family. He need not work or struggle in life. But because God chose Joseph and Mary, it was a sign of the true dignity of family and work. In the Gospel of John, Jesus referred to His ministry as a cooperation with His Father. Jesus said His Father is still at work. His Father works through Him. In the book of blessings, particularly in the blessing of offices, factories and markets, the priest blesses the workers and reminds them of the dignity of work. Their work should not only be a way to obtain money and recognition, but more importantly a participation in God's work. In the same way that the Father is at work in Jesus, whenever we work, God is at work in us. It was God who gave us our life and charisms. When we faithfully work, we continue the work of God.

Our work is also essential to our salvation. We do not only work to sustain our life. Our work can also lead us to salvation. Work is a salvific action. When we work in accordance with God's will, we fulfill our responsibility and therefore make us worthy of God's love and mercy. Work therefore is a way to salvation. Therefore, we must work to live and be saved. We should never commit the mistake of living to work. There are people who had been enslaved by their work. There are people who had made their work as the ultimate purpose of their lives. We do not live to work. Rather, we work to live and ultimately, to be saved. Such is the real dignity of work. So next time we work, do it for all these purposes.