Daily Reflection Monday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

In the beginning man and woman worked. The story of creation strikes me strange. We hear of almighty God creating the universe and then designing a garden, placing two people there with the command to “take dominion of the planet.” Why not simply seat them on a palace balcony where they could view the garden and watch over it? Instead they must work it. It must be that human labor is important to God.

In the Scripture, people often are introduced by the work they do. We hear of shepherds, fishermen, and midwives, women drawing water, priests, and soldiers. We learn that Paul was a tentmaker, Lydia traded in purple goods, Matthew and Zacchaeus were tax collectors, and Jesus was a carpenter. Also, Pope Francis mentions that in the Bible many people meet God while at work: Moses heard God’s voice while tending Jethro’s flocks, and Jesus called the disciples while they were fishing. 

Even God worked. It took six days to unfold creation. I suppose that being made in the image and likeness of God we too must work. In the Opening Prayer today, we hear that human labor continues the perfection and governing of creation. 

Our liturgy, too, is work. Its root word, leitourgia, means ‘the work of the people.’ We are always working. Through our work we find our dignity and are joined with one another. It’s in our work that we come to know ourselves, standing before God and with one another. May God bless our work.