THE DIGNITY OF WORK

THE SOWER (Luke 8:4).  "Is not this the carpenter?" (Mark 6:3) 

The people of Nazareth were astounted by how a man, who in their minds was mearely a carpenter, could speak and act with such wisdom and power. Perhaps they had low expectations of Jesus, given that his work was a humble trade, one that certainly was not associated with great wealth or prestige. Jesus shows us, however, that all workers, even those who engage in simple, unassuming work, are capable of great things. This unique glimple of Jesus as the worker, is a reminder to us that Jesus was both a laborer and a minister to his people. We have a similar vocational call to be workers and ministers, no matter what kind of work we do. As Jesus did, we must ensure that the work we do is focused not on the aquisition of wealth, power, or social status but on the preservation of justice, fairness, and the dignity of all people. Biblical  social teaching reminds us that all work inherently has dignity and that, consequently, all those who work deserve to be treated with dignity, whether that work is an underpaid factory worker, and overworked migrant farmer, or even a humble carpenter. (J. Con The Universal Church)

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