Three laborers were dragging massive stones. The first was asked by a reporter what he was doing. The reply was terse, “I’m dragging a big stone and it’s breaking my back.” He put the same query to the second fellow. His reply was, “I’m helping to build a wall and I need your help right now.” The journalist politely declined. He moved on to ask the third man. He replied with a smile: “Sir, I’m building a cathedral for God.” We are living out our own lives in an epoch in which work has fallen on hard days. It was said of a USA town where they assemble autos: “Never buy a car built there on Fridays or Mondays.” On Friday, serious drinking began to salute the opening of the weekend. On Monday, many of the workers, if they came at all, were nursing hangovers.
They kept their eyes open with toothpicks. The owners finally closed the plant. I worked as a chaplain with college students. Many of the students matched the work habits and life style of the above auto “craftsmen.” Thursday evening began party hearty time on campus. Their weekends were Missing in Action. Unhappily these work habits touch just about every industry and college in our country. We are talking about a national and, I suspect, international problem. Is this not why so many United States citizens look for products made in Japan? I went car hunting. The first point the salesman made without my query was, “I can tell you, Padre, this car was made in Japan from start to finish and I have the papers to prove it.” Incidentally, I drive a Japanese Honda. As Catholics, we have to examine our attitude to work. Are we working for the food which lasts and which gives eternal life as John today suggests? Or are we part of the problem? Are we giving a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay?
Are we as careful about our job responsibilities as we are about our salary? If negative, we are sinning against justice. And we are talking about confessional matter. God has given each one of us a task and role to do. “God,” said John Newman, “has created me to do Him a definite service. He has committed a work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission.” It can be as lofty as a president of a company or as humble as this scribbler. Whatever it be, it is our vocation. Do we look upon this assignment as an onus or a privilege? Stalter sums up this thought in verse. “No matter what my daily chores might be to earn my livelihood, still may I see the real position that I hold is bringing others to the Master’s fold.”
So, as the proverb advises, in a world that couldn’t care less, Christians should care more. Was not this the motivation that prompted the founding of the Young Christian Workers among miners in Belgium by Joseph Cardijn in the 1930s. Its counterpart was begun in France among students. Not surprisingly, it was called the Young Christian Students. Both movements were lauded by Pope Pius XI. The YCW and the YCS have fallen largely into disfavor. And yet there was never a period when we need them more. Perhaps a resurrection is in order for both groups. We need such groups to remind us of Robert Gibson’s advice that we should shine like stars in a dark world and that we are keyholes through which others can see God.
Why Be Catholic? by Rohr and Martos bring the same thought to the subject under discussion. They write, “Living the Bible does not mean memorizing Bible passages or attending prayer meetings any more than it means memorizing the catechism…It doesn’t mean having the answer and going to church but living the answer and being the Church.” The ideal attitude to our work is summed up in a few words of doggerel, “God, where shall I work today? Then He pointed me out a tiny garden and said, `Tend that for me.'” And, if our garden proves to be a bust, think of this thought from Dorothy Day. ”
Jesus met with apparent failure on the cross. But unless the seed fall into the earth and die, there is no harvest. And why must we see results? Our work is to sow. Another generation will be reaping the harvest.” The monk said, “We’re not meant to do great things for God, but we are meant to do small things with great love.” The composer JS Bach began and ended all his compositions with prayer. We know the result. Should we copy his style?