Deacon Greg’s Homily 9-3-18 (Labor Day)

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A Forward... Today's Mass combined the Feast of Pope St. Gregory the Great and the celebration of Labor Day in our nation.  We look to the purpose and blessing of the work of the People of God, called to be disciples for the Lord.  For what it's worth, Pope St. Gregory the Great was the first add the title of "servant" to the Papacy and the Clergy.  Please allow yourself to apply these talking points to not only the work we are called to do, but also the work of the Church-at-large, especially as it faces its next, and most crucial challenge to respond to the Lord's call for purification and renewal.



The Scripture references are taken from the readings at today's Mass, as well as some of the readings called for in the celebration of the Mass for Human Labor

WE WERE MADE TO WORK!
(Genesis 2: 15) The Lord God took the man, and put him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it.
  • God gave US the Church to cultivate and grow!

WE FOLLOW IN THE STEPS OF THOSE WHO WORKED!
(2 Thessalonians 3: 7-9) For we were not idle among you, nor did we freely eat bread from anyone, but in labor and toil worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you, to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.
  • Learning from those who’ve worked before, our work WILL take great effort!

WE WORK FOR THE LORD!
(Psalm 90: 14, 16) Satisfy us in the morning with your loving kindness that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Let your work appear to your servants; your glory to their children.
  • Through Sacramental Grace, the Lord works through us so that our children will know that they too must allow Grace to flow through them!

WE WORK WITH CONFIDENCE!
From TODAY’S Psalm… How I love your law, O LORD! It is my meditation all the day. Your command has made me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.
  • From God’s wisdom comes the power of love and justice, which has been known to surge like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream. (cf. Amos 5:24)

WE WORK WITH HUMILITY!
From TODAY’S First Reading… I [Paul] came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.
  • The job that we face is not only difficult, but it can be really quite scary. While our fear and trembling is understandable, our sense of TRUST must be overpowering, for from the Spirit comes Grace, and from it comes God’s gift of wisdom and power!

WE WORK FOR THE POOR – WE WORK FOR A PURPOSE!
From TODAY’S Gospel… The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
  • Let’s define the POOR as being without not only basic needs like food, money or property, but also without the gifts that we’ve come to depend on: Love, freedom, safety, relationships, and the like. To bring them glad tidings is to bring them what they need!
  • Give Sight to the Blind – Point out and help the world SEE what works needs to be done!
  • Free the Captives & the Oppressed – Help them to be RESTORED! Jesus calls on us to work so that we might lift the burdens off the shoulders of others! Jesus asking us to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord, quotes Isaiah, who refers to the concept of the Year of Jubilee when debts are forgiven and slaves would be set free!

WE ARE CALLED TO WORK WITHOUT WORRY!
(Matthew 6.21-34) Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ But seek first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is enough.
  • The Lord’s Grace is enough to FEED US with the Eucharist and CLOTHE US with God’s loving mercy. If we simply SEEK HIM FIRST, then we can get through this day, without worry for tomorrow!
  • But don’t be fooled. In order to work here in this wing of the Garden, we’ll need to rise in the morning, say our prayers, eat of the Lord’s goodness, and go back to work… This life, our call, and this job isn’t quite over yet!

SOME PARTING ADVICE FROM ST. GREGORY THE GREAT...
  • "When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them what is theirs, not ours. More than performing works of mercy, we are paying a debt of justice." - Pope St. Gregory the Great
  • "The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist." - Pope St. Gregory the Great

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