Once I was leaving to another parish for the Sunday mass. During that time, I happened to see a lady who was affected by the disease of leprosy was working. She was trying to segregate whatever she has collected here and there on the road. One of our parishioners with curiosity enquired about her doing. She gently responded to him saying that for my sustenance I have gathered some recyclable things. I am going to sell it. Before doing that, I am trying to segregate the things which I have collected.
It was really shocking to hear this because that person was totally affected by the leprosy disease. One side literally tears came into our eyes by seeing her situation and another we surprised to see her hard work. Yes, God gets glorified in her and through her.
The word of God beautifully tells that each one is created in the image of God and his likeness. There is no doubt God who is present in each one of us gets glorification when we try to use the potency that he has implanted in us. Coming September 1st 2025 we are going to celebrate Labour day. Work is portrayed as honourable and something God Himself engages in.
We see in the book of genesis God created this beautiful world out of nothing. To create this world God took six days. It means God worked for six days and on the seventh day He took rest. He saw everything was good and beautiful. God handed over his creation to the first parents to rule over it. As long as Adam and Eve were in good relation with the God everything was beautiful. We see in the bible that God was with them always. When the sin entered in them the disruption between God and man came to an exist. Though initially the labour was seen as curse later it became a blessing. Today God is inviting us to take part in His creating activity through our labour. Do we look at this labour as a blessing? Labour is a blessing for the people who put into practice their talents whatever they received from God, at the same time it is a curse for those who refuse put into practice. The woman who was affected by leprosy saw the labour as a blessing. In fact, she challenged her situation through her labour. She was able to win over her situation. She never and ever tried to blame her inability and her situation in which she lived her life. Ecclesiastes 3:13 says “All of us should eat and drink and enjoy what we have worked for. It is God’s gift.” Labor can be a source of satisfaction and joy when seen as part of God’s provision.
The book of proverbs 14:23 speaks about the labour. It says “Work and you will earn a living; if you sit around talking you will be poor”. There must be work to succeed. No work equals no success. The wise man not only talks but works. God says “Let the thief no longer steal but rather let him labour doing honest work with his own hands so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
Proverbs 12:11 says A hard-working farmer has plenty to eat, but it is stupid to waste time on useless projects. How to honour our Lord? To reflect the image of our creator as we work and to honour him by fulfilling the role for which he created us. Proverbs 10:4 says “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.” Today God is inviting us to use our talents fully. When the Gospel of Mathew speaks about the parable of talents it says like this in 25:29 “For to every person who has something, even more will be given, and he will have more than enough; but the person who has nothing, even the little that he has will be taken away from him.” It means for the person who wants to work will be given more and for the person who refuses will be taken away what he has. This is what God’s Justice. Let us partake in his creating activity and to glorify Him through our labour.
Your’s in Christ Jesus
Fr. Balraj Thotta Saminathan