For Sunday, September 5, 2010
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wisdom 9:13-18b
Philemon 9-10, 12-17
Luke 14:25-33
This coming Friday, just before Labor Day, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the August data on the unemployment rate. July's numbers were not very promising. Unemployment was still at a stubborn 9.5% despite stimulus efforts put in place over a year ago.
Political commentators point out that, with the mid-term elections looming, the persistently high unemployment rate is a very bad thing for the Democrats, and a very good thing for the Republicans. Leaving aside the politics and the fortunes of one party or the other, for those who are unemployed the situation itself is a very bad thing! It is difficult to speak about the Catholic value of the dignity of labor when so many people are without jobs, and so many others are underemployed.
With small businesses being one of the driving forces in hiring, Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, signaled last week that the Fed might consider ways that it could push banks to lend more money as a way of promoting economic growth.
This weekend's readings have a substratum of labor that weaves through them. The Gospel talks about the work of building and the calculation that is involved in the outlay of capital. In the second reading, Paul writes to Philemon, asking him to take back his slave, Onesimus, who has now become a brother in the Lord. A transformation of labor, indeed of the human person, has taken place because of Onesimus' baptism. There is a new reality at work, and Paul asks Philemon to recognize it. Philemon is encouraged by Paul to release his capital (Onesimus), his means of production, who is now a Christian. (Paul's letter might well be the first Christian text to imply the principle of the dignity of the worker, since it is an earlier work than the Gospels.)
When one brings a theological perspective to bear on the means of production (i.e., capital), it begins to take on the characteristic of gift, since everything ultimately comes from God, the Creator. With this view, the market—often seen as a competitive enterprise—now becomes the place in which the means of production and the laborer work in cooperation with God, the giver of all, to use well the gift that is given. God's inspiration and wisdom working through human ingenuity brings about the wondrous inventions that foster progress on a global scale. From health care to transportation, from agricultural production to communication, from building construction to the creative arts, innovation and advancement reveal what humankind can achieve. For a person of faith, it means that those achievements come through God's continued action in our world.
We have patent and copyright laws to protect intellectual property. These laws ensure that the originator of the idea is justly compensated for the work. Patents and copyrights are a recognition that ideas have value, just as surely as an ounce of pure gold.
But Jesus also asks us to have some humility as well. He calls upon his disciples to renounce everything to follow him. That means even relinquishing the pride and fame that comes from being creative and acknowledging that all we have and do ultimately comes from the Lord.
In his Labor Day Statement for 2010, Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Center points out the need for a new "Social Contract" that focuses on the common good of the human family. Bishop Murphy proposes that if we understand the giftedness of capital and labor—that it all comes from God—we can begin to forge a new understanding that will lead to promoting policies that uphold human dignity.
As the Gospel parable relates, building towers or going to war require a calculation on the part of those who would proceed. The ultimate question in either of those situations—as there is with every business—is, "Will there be sufficient return on investment to justify the outlay of capital?"
As Christians, our outlay of capital is to give up everything, recognizing that the investment in discipleship is worth the return.
Paul Michaels
PRAYER
God our Creator,
in the beauty of creation
you uphold the dignity of human labor
by giving to men and women
the means to share in your divine work
and the inspiration to promote the progress of humankind.
Give to each person work worthy of our calling
and make of us faithful disciples
who act in accordance with your will.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
NOTICES
USCCB STATEMENT FOR LABOR DAY
You can find the USCCB Statement for Labor Day issued by Bishop Will Murphy at: http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/labor_day_2010.pdf. Some parishes print out copies and make them available for parishioners to take home. Others link to the statement on their parish Web site, or add the PDF of the document to the content of their parish Web page on LPi's exclusive service, Seek And Find (http://SeekAndFind.com/).
ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL APPROVED
Cardinal Francis George, president of the USCCB, announced on Friday, August 20, that the new translation of the Roman Missal has been approved by the Vatican. Implementation is slated for the First Sunday of Advent in 2011. During the next 15 months publishers will prepare editions and catechetical efforts will take place. For more information, see: http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2010/10-149.shtml.
CATECHUMENATE WEBINAR
The North American Forum on the Catechumenate will present another online webinar on Monday, September 20, at 2 PM Eastern time (11 AM Pacific). The topic is "Discernment: Listening to God in Initiation & Parish Ministry" and will be presented by Donna Steffan, a Sister of Charity and author and spiritual director from Cincinnati. More information is available on the NA Forum Web site at: http://www.naforum.org.