Matt 9:35-38;
August 31, 2008
1st Cor 12:4-12
Patrick Preheim
A Labour Day Classic?
Labour Day means different things to different people. No doubt a fair number of us think of the traditional struggle between the Rough Riders and Blue Bombers come Labour Day. For students and teachers it means being back in the classroom. For farmers it means long hours to get the harvest off as soon as possible. For some it means closing up the cottage and bidding adieu to weekends at the lake. For congregational life it will mean resuming youth bible Study (on Tuesday), two services (starting next week), women’s bible study (Sept 16), young adult gatherings, carpet bowling, Ruth Mission Society, Choirs, Care Groups and other regular gatherings associated with the fall, winter and spring. Labour Day means all of this and more. On the weekend of the civic holiday known as Labour Day we have opportunity to also be mindful of God’s labour and how that shapes the way we view our daily labour.
I can think of no better way to sum up the labour of God than in the modern version of the Trinitarian description of God: creator, redeemer, and sustainer. Our Lord is a creator God. Our world is wonderfully and beautifully made. If the earth were a few meters closer or farther away from the sun, or if the earth’s orbit were more elliptical than circular, or if our atmosphere were a different composition, we certainly would not have life as it currently exists and maybe no life at all. As Psalm 19 notes, “the heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork.” The fragility of the environment is both a testimony to God’s creation and requires that we be good stewards of our environment. The wonders of God’s creation also appear in small things. When I consider the anatomy and physiology of the human body and the complexities of the mind I am left with a sense of awe. When I look at the miracle of the heavens or human life (Psalm 8) I am led to worship. Have we and our world evolved purely by chance? I think not. It has been shaped and guided by a creator God. God’s labour, however, is not limited to creation. I am not a Deist who believes that God started the clock running and walked away from creation.
It is the church’s testimony that God’s labour also consists of redemption. After the good creation enumerated in first couple of chapters of Genesis come the stories which illustrate human propensity toward hurtful and self centered actions. God knows that most of us regret the unkind words and actions that happen on account of fear, selfishness, and anger. God knows that we benefit from words and rituals that allow us to leave our mistakes in the past. The biblical narrative is replete with God’s attempts to provide guidance and forgiveness in the midst of human failings. The giving of the law, the Torah, is understood as grace. “Finally”, the people say, “we have a written copy of God’s expectations and even guidelines on how to make things right when we fall short. If I utter a loud oath (a swear word we might say) I am instructed to confess my sin to God and offer a female sheep or goat. And if I cannot afford a sheep or goat, I can bring two pigeons or two turtle doves” (Leviticus 5:4-7). From this perspective it is a gift (grace) to know God’s expectations and to have a program for making things right when failure happens. It is grace that I can leave my mistakes behind and that the community is instructed to not hold my sin against me. The sacrifice was a ritual act for the individual and community- it was grace. People soon learned to play this system to their benefit, so God sent the prophets. The prophets are another gift (grace) offered to the people. The prophets spoke with the Spirit of God to turn people to right belief and action. The prophets usually minimized the sacrificial system in favour of a penitent heart (Micah 6:7b-8, Isaiah 58, Jer 31:31). This clarification of the Torah so threatened the establishment that many of the prophets were killed (Matt 23:37). It was in this tradition that Jesus of Nazareth appeared. In a Christian understanding Jesus represents the fullest gift (grace) of God. Jesus’ relationship to God exceeds that of other prophets. Christians hold that in some mysterious way Jesus and God were one. In Jesus, God reached out to the untouchables of 1st century Palestine (the leapers, women, Samaritans, Gentiles) and to those who persecuted him. In Jesus, God demonstrated a fearless way of living that would destroy systems of domination. The willingness of God to publically suffer and die, to die for the sins of others, takes God’s labour to the apex. Reconciliation with God no longer relied on what we do. God took control of the situation and invited the marginalized into the family and extended friendship to those who had abandoned and killed him. It is the ultimate gift (grace) that God can offer. And God in Christ offers us that same acceptance regardless of what we have done.
And God’s labour does not end there. God promises to sustain us in the midst of difficulty. This is a gift (a grace) of God. It is a gift (a grace) to us and to the world through us. In the last little while I have been connecting the words of gift and grace. In the New Testament grace and gift are the same word, charis. Charis is the root from which we get the words charisma, charm, and charity. Sometimes we translate charis as “gift” (as in there are many gifts but the same Spirit- 1st Cor 12:4) and sometimes we translate it “grace” (as in grace to you and peace- 1st Cor 1:3). When Paul writes that there are a variety gifts, it could equally be translated that there are a variety of graces. We receive the grace of God in the talents, charms, and charity of those around us. And we impart the grace of God as we share our talents, charms and charity. This charis in and around us is God’s doing. God sustains us through the gifts of those around us, and God sustains others and the world through our gifts.
Clearly our spiritual graces do not always correspond to our occupations. Being able to choose an occupation is not an option we all have; sometimes we do what we do simply to pay the bills. God’s grace can shine through even when we are poorly matched with a profession. In this week leading up to Labour Day I have thought about how our daily labour might be reflective of God’s labour. With that in mind I compiled a list of places in which we labour. You have probably already notice it in the bulletin. I created the list to the best of my ability and omitted an occupation only by ignorance. Some like professions are grouped together; I did this to keep the sermon 20 minutes rather than 30; forgive me if I have offended you. I have drafted a short prayer for the people of each area of labour. It is a prayer of thanksgiving, and encouragement to not let our work be separated from the work of God. I would like the congregation to conclude each prayer with the refrain “may God bless your labour”. Here are my Labour Day prayers.
Administrators: accountants, secretaries, principles, deans, department heads, site managers, civil servants, librarians, bankers, board directors and investors We give thanks to God for your gifts of organization and attention to details. Your oversight makes possible so much of the work others do. As people come to you with questions, concerns, and seeking advice never forget that all are to be received like Christ (Rule of St. Benedict). [motion for congregational response]
Artists: painters, potters, musicians, sketchers, writers, wood workers, welders, architects and entrepreneurs. We give thanks to God for the beauty present in your work. Your creating spirit reflects the spirit of God which moved over the deep at the first creation. Remember that it is God who has graced you with abilities in the creating arts. May that which you skilfully animate to life testify to the first Creator and inspire praise to God. [motion for congregational response]
Business men and women We give thanks to God for the courage of your investment of time and money. Like God, you attend the grateful and the complaining—may you respond as gracefully as our Lord. You bear responsibility for workers as our Lord does for his disciples—be generous and fair. May your community, employees, and colleagues see in you the difference between “business woman” and “Christian business woman”. [motion for congregational response]
Drivers: delivery vehicles, bus drivers, pilots, semi operators and chaperons We give thanks to God for those who transport people and produce. You accept responsibility in driving large vehicles and in caring for valuable cargo—may you remain alert at the helm. You take to the road regardless of the climate-- may you be given wisdom when not to venture out. Even as our Lord guides us of the roads of life we ask that you be a good shepherd to those in your care and those you meet on the road. [motion for congregational response]
Engineers: structural, electrical, chemical, civil, water We give thanks for your God given skill which brings dreams to reality. We pray that you might have the wisdom to see the weaknesses of a project and courage to advocate for safety. We pray that you have calm when meeting with difficult people and strength to walk away when pressured to compromise your integrity. [motion for congregational response]
Food Producers: farmers, gardeners, cooks, food services and those of agribusiness We give thanks for the desire God has given you to raise, distribute, and prepare food. You accept great risk and work long hours so that food might be available for the world. May God grant you protection in a dangerous profession and healing when tragedy strikes. May you avoid the temptation to exploit the creation—be gentle stewards of the land for the sake of future generations. [motion for congregational response]
Healers: doctors, nurses, chaplains, aides, social workers, therapists, counsellors pastors and others who serve in places of healing We give thanks to God for your willingness to be present with those who are hurting. Your labour is particularly needed in a world torn by illness and inequality. We pray that you might listen well and practice you God given talents in the restoration of health. Remember that you are an agent of God’s healing Spirit and not the great physician himself. [motion for congregational response]
Home Makers We give thanks to God for your presence in the home. Jesus received a mother’s tender love in a home and from an earthly father gained a vision of our home above. We pray for the grace of patience, focus, and compassion on those who tend the home so that home might be a place of acceptance, safety and love. [motion for congregational response]
Patients We pray for those whose hard work is healing. We do not give thanks for the illnesses that afflict us, our loved ones, and those in hospital. Rather we give thanks for your suffering, O God, that in you we have a Lord who understands our questions and grief. Help us to see our purpose when illness restricts us. We ask that you heal our spirits when physic healing is distant or impossible. [motion for congregational response]
Public Servants: police, fire departments, missionaries, relief and development workers, military personal. We give thanks to God for you who protect, serve, and aid in the most difficult of situations. May your courage to sacrifice for the common good be strengthened. May you be graced with a love for our common humanity-- even if it means going to the ends of the earth, even if it means dying so that another may live. Always remember that God is the true saviour of the people you meet and serve, and that you are an instrument of the heavenly Saviour. [motion for congregational response]
Researchers: scientists, explorers. We give thanks to God for your curiosity which inspires you to seek new ground. We pray that you might be given endurance as you meet resistance in your exploration. May you be given a discerning mind to know the potential benefit and harm of your quest, and may you advocate for the common good. [motion for congregational response]
The Retired We give thanks to God for those who have completed their formal labours at home and in the world. We give thanks for their commitment, faith, and service which has made work possible for the next generation. Grant purpose to those who are retired. Grant them eyes to see the many places their time and talent is still needed. [motion for congregational response]
Students & Teachers We give thanks to God for your pursuit of knowledge and your willingness to impart knowledge. May your classrooms be places of respect and mutual up building. May you have the strength to advocate for the weakest. May you inspire the strongest. Remember that wisdom is necessary to apply knowledge, and that God gives wisdom to all who ask. [motion for congregational response]
Trades: minors, builders, masons, barbers, repairmen, assembly line and warehouse workers We give thanks to God for those who build, dig, cut, assemble, repair and move things. You repeat a task again and again so that our communities grow and flourish. Jesus learned patience, precision, and reflection while working in the trades. May the mundane and repetitious be places where you too grow spiritually. May you respond faithfully when supervisors and companies and customers act inappropriately. [motion for congregational response]
Underemployed and unemployed We do not give thanks to God for underemployment or unemployment. May those who desire meaningful labour be given a blessing in their pursuit of work. May their horizons expand to see alternative service God may have for them. May they be graced with hope and patience as they wait. [motion for congregational response]
The Dying- At the conclusion of this prayer I would ask that we say “God bless our labour” because it is a labour in which we all participate. We give thanks to God for the eternal rest which comes to each and every one of us. We give thanks that on account of your labour, O God, we need not fear death, for it is just the beginning. We ask for spiritual strength to do the hard work necessary to die well. We pray for trust as we release loved ones and embrace our own mortality. Give us peace in the transition. [motion for congregational response]
In conclusion, let us this day and weekend be mindful of God’s labour. Later today they will play the Labour Day Classic. While the game will be entertaining, I consider God’s labour to be the classiest of all time, and it is on-going; the game goes on. The labour of God is present in our labour. May we allow ourselves to be God’s instruments as God continues creating, redeeming and sustaining.
Amen.
Let us respond with hymn HWB 390, God of the fertile fields.