TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

A Blessed Labor Day to all!

Labor Day is much more than the unofficial last fling of the summer, which, by the way, I am not ready to give up yet. And it is much more than an “extra day of vacation,” which I have to admit I like.

Labor Day is the time to recognize the value and dignity of work and the contribution and rights of the American worker.

Work is more than a way to make a living.  Work is a means of growing, sharing and enhancing our own life and that of our family and of society.

Because work is essential for the well-being of an individual, family and society, the basic rights of workers are to be respected:

• The right to be productive.
• The right to work for a fair and living wage.
• The right to safe working conditions.

On May 15, 1891, Pope Leo XIII issued his groundbreaking encyclical “Rerum Novarum,” or “Of New Things,” which all these years later is still the cornerstone of Catholic Social teaching. It addressed the social and economic challenges of the Industrial Revolution, emphasized the dignity of labor and the rights of workers, while rejecting socialist ideologies that exploited the working class.

The Socialists of the time wanted to eliminate the owning of private property, but the Pope stated very clearly in this encyclical that “every person has, by nature, the right to possess property of their own.”

The origin of Labor Day can be traced back to this same period, a time and place when the Industrial Revolution was in full swing in the United States and around the world. People were leaving farms and ranches to work in city factories and underground mines. They were working 12 to 14 hours a day in dangerous conditions. Laborers eventually joined together to form unions and bargain collectively for the benefit of all members.

These unions promoted the idea of a holiday honoring all working people, which formally became Labor Day in 1894.

Each year the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issues a statement for Labor Day that addresses current concerns and invites Catholics to pray, reflect and advocate for policies that protect workers’ rights and promote economic justice. I urge you to check the USCCB website for this year’s statement.

So, what do we do when we see a wrong that needs to be corrected? The gospel this morning points out very clearly, we are responsible for correcting others, regardless of how unpleasant or difficult it may be.

Theologians refer to it as “Pedagogy of Christian Correction.” Psychologists and counselors call it “Conflict Resolution Management.” Spiritual Directors call it “Fraternal Correction.” Employers refer to it as “Intervention.” Parents and Teachers might call it “Tough Love.”

What do you do with an uncooperative employee, a dishonest boss, an undisciplined child, a greedy merchant, a corrupt politician?                               

What do you do when someone says or does something that hurts you or others? How do you react? 

• Calmly, or maybe aggressively, confront them?
• Reconcile with them?
• Turn your back and ignore them?
• Or maybe spread false rumors and gossip about them?

Our task is to confront without being confrontational. Not an easy task. Therefore, we are to pray constantly for the grace to challenge wrongdoing. We are called to defend the truth and what is right. At the same time, we must respect the person; something we don’t see happening too much these days.

Jesus had to admonish his own disciples. Remember, in last week’s gospel Jesus said, “Get behind me Satan.” “You do not think as God does, but as man does.”

Jesus also knew that His disciples would have to admonish others, so He taught them how to do it, as we read in Matthew 18 this week.

• The first step is to try to resolve the difficulty one-on-one. You hope the person will listen and comply.
• If this doesn’t work, the second step is to invite another person to meet with both of you.
• If this fails, follow the third step and bring it to the community at large.
• If that person remains stubborn and refuses to change or admit to their error, do the fourth step and dismiss them.

In our first reading, Ezekiel understood that his ministry as a prophet would require him to confront his contemporaries because of their evil actions. That is the reason he saw himself as a watchman, someone who looks for impending danger and sounds a warning so others will not be destroyed. If Ezekiel failed in this responsibility to correct the errors of others, he himself would be held accountable.

The second reading simplifies the manner in which correction is offered. Paul speaks about love in his letter to the Romans, “Owe nothing to anyone, except love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”

We owe love. And love is expensive even though it doesn’t cost anything monetarily. Consider the love between a child and a parent. You cannot buy it, and you cannot replace it. Consider the love between husband and wife. You cannot buy it, and you cannot replace it.

Paul’s letter continues, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.”

On this Labor Day weekend, let us pray, reflect, and advocate for policies that are based on love, including protecting workers’ rights and promoting economic justice. Please pray with me for the grace to challenge misconduct and to do it with respect.

As Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I, in the midst of them.”