Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

~ For many people, Labor Day means two things: a day off work and the end of summer.  But we cannot fail to remember that Labor Day is a day set aside to honor all working men and women. Back in the 1880’s a man named Peter McGuire, who helped found the carpenters’ union, suggested at a union meeting that a day be set aside to recognize the contributions of laborers and to acknowledge the role that unions had played in helping workers achieve better pay and better working conditions. During the Industrial Revolution of the 1800’s, the United States of America, and many other world economies, moved from being based on the farm to based on the factory. But it took a while for humane working conditions to catch up with the economy. At that time, workers often labored 16 hours a day in unsafe conditions for wages that were so low that many children had to work to help their families survive. Peter McGuire envisioned a day when workers could call attention to their grievances, and the first Labor Day was celebrated in New York City in 1882.  

This Labor Day weekend gives us all the opportunity once again to reflect on the dignity of labor; that’s certainly part of our Catholic Tradition, too. 134 years ago, Pope Leo XIII became the first pope to address the dignity of human work and human workers in his famous encyclical Rerum Novarum (which is Latin for “Of New Things”). You see, at that time, in the 19th century, it was a new thinking to pay a just wage for a fair day’s work. It was a new thinking that all people deserve safe working environments. It was a new thinking that the economy must serve people, and not the other way around. And it was a new thinking that work was more than just a way to make a living; it is a way that we participate in God’s continuing creation that can lead us to salvation. That is why, to this day, our Catholic Church always stands up in support of workers, unions, the unemployed, and all who seek to enhance human dignity.

Our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, expressly stated that he chose his papal name to honor his predecessor Leo XIII, as a sign that he too would focus on the new challenges posed by emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence. Just as Leo XIII sought to protect laborers from the dehumanizing conditions of the industrial age, Leo XIV is concerned with the potential for AI to undermine human dignity and intellectual property. Choosing the name Leo suggests that Leo XIV will use the Church’s long-standing principles of social justice, as formalized by Leo XIII, to advocate for ethical frameworks governing AI development. It will be fascinating to see how this unfolds in the years to come!  

There’s no question that, over the course of our lifetime, we spend more time working than we do any other activity. So, this weekend, I invite you to reflect on the work you do. If you are able to work, thank God for that gift. If you do not have a job for whatever reason, consider how you do spend your time and if it is effective or helpful for you. Are you happy in your job? Are you grateful for what you have? Do you put in an honest day’s work? How do you treat your co-workers, your superiors, or those you supervise? Are you bringing Christian values to where you work?  

And reflect too on the work you are doing to build up God’s kingdom, especially for those most in need. Perhaps you could do more. Perhaps you already do too much. What about the work you do for the parish and this community? Stewardship Season is coming up, a time to commit yourself to sharing your blessings with others by giving your time, talent, and treasure.  

This weekend, when we might bemoan the end of summertime, don’t forget the real focus of this holiday. Whether we’re working hard, whether we’re not old enough to work, or whether we’re retired, the Lord has a job for each one of us. Each of us, in our own way, are called to announce and bring forth the Kingdom of God!