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To grasp the truth that dignity of all human labor derives from the dignity of the human person who engages in it requires what St Paul rightly called a renewal of the mind (See, Romans 12:2).

Labor Day invites us to examine how we view our own labor in the light of what the Church proclaims about the dignity of all human work, no matter what kind, precisely because it is done by human persons who are created in the Image and Likeness of God. A Catholic vision of work views it in light of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. The entirety of our human experience was assumed by Jesus, including our labor, our human work. The Son of God worked. He was in communion with the Father and His work was joined to the Father's work. That is the same relationship we now have with the Father through our Baptism into Christ.

1 posted on 09/01/2012 8:14:15 AM PDT by tcg
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To: tcg
"To grasp the truth that dignity of all human labor derives from the dignity of the human person who engages in it requires what St Paul rightly called a renewal of the mind (See, Romans 12:2)."

To extol Labor Day as some kind of expression of biblical theology is to miss Paul's argument altogether. Work is here because there is a curse upon the universe as a result of God's ongoing reminder of our brokeness. Sin is why we labor, not dignity.

That it is possible to work with our hands, lead a quiet life and not be in any need (Thess.), is simply a suitable response while we await our final redemption. We ought to be saying of Labor Day, here is the reminder that Jesus needs to rescue us from ourselves. It is not a "renewal of the mind". Spend some learning hermeneutics, not tradition.

2 posted on 09/01/2012 8:47:52 AM PDT by Dutchboy88
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