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A Word from Grace Street

Holiness of Your Work

May 20, 2009

My Dear People,

Your work is as holy as mine.  Every bit as holy.

I'd like to think this goes without saying, and yet, some things that go without saying need to be said anyway; and perhaps often.

I just finished reading John Davis' Faith @ Work column in the latest Epistle, titled "Locking Up Bad Guys for Jesus?"  John is a federal prosecutor and writes insightfully and memorably about the relationship between his faith and his work.  As I hope you know, every Epistle has a Faith @ Work article written by one of your fellow parishioners.

In one of our post-communion prayers is a line that resonates with me every time we pray it, "And now, Father, send us out to the work you have given us to do, to love and to serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ Our Lord" (Book of Common Prayer, 366). 

"The work you have given us to do..."  Each of us prays that prayer, and the words are equally true for each one of us.  God gives us work to do, work that is no one else's but ours, uniquely ours.  That work can be all manner of things: waiting tables; wielding a jack-hammer; caring for children, or for an elderly parent; selling and buying stocks; playing an instrument; computing taxes; word processing and making phone calls.  All work given to us by God, given as gift; given, perhaps, as opportunity to make our livelihood; and given, certainly, as opportunity for us to put our faith into action in our daily lives.

In a letter by tradition credited to our patron saint, we have the following timeless words, words that, as with the prayer above, resonate with me every time I read them:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working not for men and women but for the Lord, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving (Colossians 3:23-24).

This coming Sunday, we celebrate Rogation Sunday, following in the ancient Christian tradition of claiming all work as holy work.  Whether you have thought deeply about the connection between your work and your faith, or whether you haven't thought about it much at all; indeed, whether or not you are currently employed; I do hope you will join us to celebrate the gift and holiness of the work that God has given each and all of us to do.

Your fellow laborer in the vineyard,
and your brother in Christ,

Wallace+

 

Next entry: “Joy of Befuddlement”

Previous entry: Would Jesus Torture?

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