We mark Labor Day this weekend as a signaling of the unofficial end of summer. Even though school has started already for most if not all students, the persistent warm weather tells us we are not yet ready for fall. With a special and extra day off, we have an opportunity not only to enjoy family, friends, perhaps a swimming pool, a brat and a burger on the grill, but to reflect on the value and importance of work.
I spent some significant time writing about work during my mini-sabbatical in the spring. I have a basic but very strong conviction that our work is God’s work. When we work, we are carrying out the work of creation that God initiated. Our work extends God’s work.
My writing is organized according to a simple pattern that I believe carries out this work partnership between us and God. First, we must acknowledge the primacy of God’s work and God as the first worker. We must bring to our spiritual consciousness, on a regular basis, that God worked first and God intended for us to continue his good, meaningful work. Second, we must identify the unique gifts and skills that each of us has been given as a gift from God so that we can carry out God’s work with our own special flare and with our personal passions. Third, we must always be aware of how we can share those gifts, skills, talents and resources to make our world a better place, truly serving each other and constantly looking for needs in the world to match our work interests, passions, creativity, beliefs and hopes.
It is a really simple three step process: acknowledge, identify and share. Perhaps you can spend a few minutes, or longer if you can, this weekend reflecting on how you have carried out this process. In my research, both formal and informal about work, I am saddened by the amount of people that I have met, heard from or who have written about work, who make absolutely no connection between God and their work. I hope that you are not one of them. Take some time to prayerfully recognize and connect your work with God’s. I do not limit the word work to job, career or vocation, but any endeavor that you put effort towards.
As I have mentioned at Mass, along with many of you, I wrestle with a range of emotions regarding the recent reports of clergy sexual abuse of minors. The following statement does not say it all because of the ebb and flow of various feelings, but it is our parish’s statement, crafted by our leadership. It is on our website, but many of you requested that it be included in a printed form.
We share in the anger, sorrow, disgust and outrage that many are feeling in response to the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report revealing a longstanding history of clergy sexual abuse in the state and beyond. For those who were affected by these horrors, the latest revelations have meant suffering all over again, reliving the pain and humiliation of the past. As a Church and as leaders, we have failed to protect the innocent, those entrusted in our care.
Our hearts, prayers and support go out to all who have been impacted by these horrific abuses. But that’s not enough. We stand with Pope Francis, Cardinal Cupich and dioceses throughout the U.S. in committing to a zero tolerance policy with regard to incidents of sexual abuse. We stand united in demanding accountability from abusers, from those who allowed abuses to occur, and in demanding objective, third party based investigations to root out the truth and hold violators accountable.
May all Church leaders work in unison with the laity to create a renewed environment of hope, healing, protection, and safety for children and the most vulnerable who we serve.
This past Thursday we held the first in a series of prayer services providing ANYONE who wishes to participate an opportunity for quiet prayer and reflection on significant, violent, tragic or upsetting events in our world. This past Thursday’s service focused on the survivors of clergy sexual abuse and the need for greater wisdom and accountability on the part of our Church Leadership.
We are calling these services “The Quiet: a Reflective Prayer Experience for Healing and Peace,” held at Holy Family at 6PM on the last Thursday of each month. The next one will be Thursday, September 27. Our Knights of Columbus have inspired us to craft the themes of this and future services in response to events or issues that may surface prior to the service. Stay tuned for more details as it gets closer to these quiet prayer experiences. Come to the quiet and invite others to join you.