Jb 7:1-4, 6-7 | Ps 147 | 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23 | Mk 1:29-39

Sometimes people believe that work is a result of Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden of Eden. If they hadn’t fallen, then life on earth would be nothing but a big vacation. But that is not true. When God created Adam, He left him in charge of tending the garden. The Book of Genesis tells us, “The Lord God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it” (Gen 2:15).  So, work has been part of the human experience from the beginning, and it is meant to be a blessing. However, with Adam and Eve’s sin, work became difficult. Because of sin, Job can say in today’s first reading, “Is not man’s life a drudgery?”

All of us agree that work can be a drudgery. That is true whether we work outside or inside, in a factory or in an office. It is true whether we are students, whether we are raising children, or taking care of a home. All work is difficult. However, that does not mean that it isn’t a blessing. God still wants us to find fulfillment in our work, no matter what it may be; wants it to be more than a way for us to earn a living and provide for ourselves and our family; and wants our work to be a way that we can experience joy. So, as Christians, we approach our work, whatever it may be, with the attitude that it’s a way for us to give glory to God.

What are some ways that we can experience joy in our work, even when it is difficult and a drudgery?

One way is to view our work as a service of love to others. As Christians, we are called to do everything with love, even our day-to-day tasks. Whenever love is brought to a situation, it is immediately charged with the presence of God. So, if I am dealing with customers, it’s always with a sense that they might be having a hard day, and I can make that day a little better by being friendly.

All work provides some service to others. So, we always want to do our best out of love for the other person. Just as we would want people who are working for us to put in their best effort, so we should be doing the same for others.

The same is true for students. Students have a different kind of work because they are not so much serving others but educating themselves for future service. So, students, in your studies you can show love to your teachers by paying attention in class and applying yourselves to the assignments they give you. Your teachers are working hard to give you a good education. You show them respect and love when you honor that hard work by working hard in return. You are also showing love for the people you will one day serve with the talents you develop. We were constantly reminded in the seminary, “You aren’t learning this and being formed for you—you are learning this and being formed for others.”

As Pope Saint John Paul II put it, “It is the human person who gives dignity to the work, not work that gives dignity to the person.” Whatever our work may be, if we are doing our best and serving others out of love, then we can hold our heads up high and do it proudly. Work is meant to be a blessing for us. It’s a way that we can develop our talents and serve others out of love.

So, we gather here on this day of rest to thank God for the gift of work and to pray for those who are unemployed (or underemployed) or who are being exploited in their work. May the work and exercise of ministry that you and I do, always help to build a world marked with God’s love, mercy, and justice.