A Meditation on the Spirituality of Work

1
A Meditation onthe Spiritualityof Work as
part of the Ministry of Everyday Life
2
The word of Gods revelation is profoundly marked
by the fundamental truth that human beings,
created in the image of God, share by
their WORK in the activity of the Creator . .
.
On Human Labor Pope John Paul II
3
Human beings in a sense continue to
developthe activity of the Creator and
perfect it as they advance further and
further in the discovery of the resources
and values contained in the whole of creation.
On Human Labor Pope John Paul II
4
The faithful, therefore must learn the deepest
meaning and the valueof all creation,and its
orientationto the praise of God.
On Human Labor Pope John Paul II
5
The knowledge that by means of WORKhumanity
shares in the work of creation constitutes
the most profound motive for undertaking
it in various sectors.
On Human Labor Pope John Paul II
6
By our labor we are unfolding the Creators
work and contributing to the realization of
Gods plan on earth.
The Christian message binds us firmly to
build the world . . . . . . . and to not
neglect our fellow human beings.
On Human Labor Pope John Paul II
7
The eloquence of the life of Christ is
unequivocal He belongs to the working
world . . . He has appreciation and
respect for human work.
On Human Labor Pope John Paul II
8
It can indeed be said that He looks with love
upon human work and the different forms that
it takes, seeing in each one of these forms a
particular facet of humanitys likeness with
God, the Creator. . . .
On Human Labor Pope John Paul II
9
While providing the substance of life for
themselves and their families, men and women
are performing their activities in a way which
appropriately benefits society.
On Human Labor Pope John Paul II
10
In this way the WORLD will be permeated by
the spirit of Christ and more effectively
achieve its purpose in justice,
charity and peace . . . .
On Human Labor Pope John Paul II
11
Work remains a good thing, not only because it
is useful and enjoyable, but also because it
expresses and increases the workers dignity.
Through work we not only transform the world,
we are transformed ourselves . . . .
On Human Labor Pope John Paul II
12
For when people work, they not only alter things
and society, they develop themselves as well.
They learn much, they cultivate their
resources, they go outside of themselves
and beyond themselves.
On The Church in the Modern World Vatican II
13
Rightly understood, this kind of growth is
of greater value than any external riches
which can be garnered.
People are more precious for what they are
than for what they have.
On Human Labor Pope John Paul II
14
It should not be forgotten that even in our own
day work is very oppressive for many people,
either because of miserable working conditions
and long hours especially in the poorer
regions of the world
. . . or because of the persistence in
economically more developed societies of too
many cases of injustice and exploitation.
The Lords Day Pope John Paul II
15
. . . we are therefore reminded of
The Dignity of Work and the Rights of
Workers -- a key theme of Catholic Social
Teaching ---
The economy must serve people, not the other way
around. Work is more than a way to make a
living it is a form of continuing participation
in God's creation. If the dignity of work is to
be protected, then the basic rights of workers
must be respected -- the right to productive
work, -- to decent and fair wages, -- to
organize and join unions, -- to private
property, -- and to economic initiative.
Excerpts from Sharing Catholic Social Teaching
U.S Catholic Conference
16
We inherit the work of the generations before
us, and we share in the building of the
future of all those who will come after us.
Mother and Teacher Pope John Paul II
17
Awareness that humanity's work is a
participation in God's activity ought to
permeate even the most ordinaryeveryday
activities.
On Human Labor Pope John Paul II
18
The shopping mall, the school, the kitchen
table, the courtroom, the factory, and the
office can be altars of sorts places where
the mundane labors of life may be offered
up, blessed, and transformed
into things of beauty and holiness.
From Sprituality_at_Work by G. F.Pierce
19
God is, in a sense, at the point of my pen,
my pick, my paintbrush, my needle
and my heart and my thought. It is by
carrying to completion the stroke, the line,
the stitch I am working on that I shall
lay hold on the ultimate end towards which my
will at its deepest levels tends.
Hymn of the Universe Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
20
The Christian finds in human WORKa small part
of the Cross of Christ and accepts it in
the same spirit of redemption in which
Christ accepted His Cross for us.
On Human Labor Pope John Paul II
21
In WORK, thanks to the light that penetrates
us from the Resurrection of Christ, we always
find a glimmer of new life . . .
. . . an announcement of the new heavens and
the new earthin which humanity and the world
participate precisely through the toil
that goes with work.
On Human Labor Pope John Paul II
22
May the goodness of the Lord be upon
us, And give success to the work of our
hands.
Psalm 9017
23
AMEN
24
(No Transcript)