Labor Day Hiatus -- Luke 14:1, 7-14

For nine weeks I have worked through Galatians and now its time to take a short break. I expect to be back to this Galatians series later in the month or October 14th. We have many exciting programs starting up in September and these must be supported and celebrated.

This weekend is Labor Day and I want to explore the relationship between the Christian faith and our work life -- work life as a volunteer, a homemaker, or as one who works a "regular job."
The Presbyterian/Reformed tradition has long held (since the time of John Calvin) that one can find in their work since it is rooted in God's desire for humanity to live in community. Work is a central part of the communal life. No matter what we do: bus tables, teach physics or kindergarten, serve as an elected public official, postal worker, or . . . . . , we are living out a calling from God to be alive in human community. Since work is necessary and desirable, each worker is due his or her wage for a good day's work. The wage must be a livable wage not a minimum wage. Also, the goal of full and fair employment is part of our Christian social ethic.

I will explore this topic using the gospel lectionary reading from Luke 14:7-14. Here is the passage from the NRSV:

On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.

⁷When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. ⁸“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; ⁹and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. ¹⁰But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. ¹¹For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” ¹²He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. ¹³But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. ¹⁴And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

While it is easy to see in Jesus' teachings that people within the Christian faith are called to a life of humility, this is not to be confused with a life which tolerates oppression, of ourselves or others.
Well, join me on Sunday as we thank God for the gift of our labor and to commit ourselves to actions which will bring about justice for sisters and brothers in the workplaces throughout the world.

Some other web sites you might wish to look at:

Interfaith Worker Justice
Presbyterian Resources for Worker Justice (down loadable pdf file)