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September 06, 2009 - Is Labor Day A Spiritual Holiday?

by Father Edward L. Beck, C.P.

With Labor Day upon us, the official close of summer has arrived. Always a bittersweet time. The days are getting shorter and the leisure of summer will soon be behind us. But the coolness and beauty of fall will hold its own magic. It’s interesting to note that we mark this transition with a day by which we commemorate work and workers. As you may know, the holiday began in Canada in the 1870’s born of labor disputes. And an American Peter McGuire who witnessed a parade and labor festival in Toronto brought it back to New York and organized the first Labor Day on September 5th, 1882. It later became a federal holiday to honor workers and labor unions. But what you may not know is that in 1909 the Sunday preceding Labor Day was designated LABOR SUNDAY and dedicated to celebrating the spiritual aspects of work and the labor movement. Isn’t it odd to think of work as a spiritual endeavor? Yet, of course, it is. I know it’s hard sometimes to see the blessing of work, especially when we may not particularly like what we do. Or right now you may be out of work in this horrible economy and perhaps being productive in a different way. It seems as though we were made to be creative, to produce, and even to take pride in our accomplishments. To be connected to the end result of what we have helped make can bring great satisfaction. In that way I suppose we’re a bit like God, whose primary act was to CREATE. And when God looked at all he had created God said, “It is VERY GOOD.” I know we don’t always say that when we work. Sometimes in fact it may seem very bad. But maybe this Labor Day is a t ime to remember what it’s supposed to be all about. No matter what you may be doing for a livelihood, or even if you’re unemployed right now, to take some time to look around and see the benefit that is being achieved by your labor. To try to see your creation through new eyes. And maybe even if you can’t say, IT’S VERY GOOD, you might be able to say, IT’S NOT HALF-BAD.

TO WATCH FATHER BECK GIVE THE ABOVE REFLECTION, CLICK HERE.