Monday, September 3, 2018
LABOR
DAY
John
20, Verse 26
Are
the doors of you heart locked? Are you without faith? Perhaps Christ will stand
someday in your midst as he did Thomas.
I
came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,
and my message and my proclamation
were not with persuasive words of wisdom,
but with a demonstration of spirit and power,
so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom
but on the power of God.
and my message and my proclamation
were not with persuasive words of wisdom,
but with a demonstration of spirit and power,
so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom
but on the power of God.
Preachers
have called Thomas the "Doubter." Few have touched upon his cynicism.
Over and over, Thomas heard the witness of the followers. But, Thomas wanted
more than proof positive. ("Inspect and touch," literally meant
"to see and thrust.") He stepped beyond skepticism into cynicism. A
week later, Jesus again appear with the greeting of "Shalom." Turning
to Thomas, Jesus answered the challenge of cynicism with the challenge of
faith. Thomas responded with two titles for Jesus: Lord and God. Thomas
acknowledged the rightful place of Jesus as Lord; he also saw God working
through the Risen Christ. Thomas finally received Christ's gift of Shalom. In
contrast to Thomas, Jesus blessed those who believed without seeing him raised
from the dead. John uses the word "believe" in two senses: to trust
("believe in") and to hold onto the truth ("believe (something)
about..."). Blessed were those who placed their personal trust in Christ
(believe in); they do not need proof of his resurrection, for they know he is
alive. But, even blessed are those who hold onto the truths of faith
(believe...about), for, with an open heart, they will soon experience the risen
Christ. Belief in these two sense stood against the cynicism found in Thomas.
Catechism
Themes: CCC 651-655
Without
the Resurrection, Christianity would be nothing more than a school that taught
the wisdom of a great teacher. With the Resurrection, however, Christianity
became a road to intimacy with God. The Resurrection justifies the life, works,
and teachings of Jesus. Through the lens of the Resurrection, we can see this
life, these works and teachings in the context of Scripture and realize
"Jesus is Lord." Faith in the Resurrection leads us to the conclusion
Jesus is true God and true man. Through the Resurrection, we receive the gift
of a new eternal life, free from evil. We become one with our Savior who died
and rose for us. And, as he rose, Christ assures us that we, too, will rise on
the last day.
How does the cynicism of the world
affect you? How does faith keep you from cynicism?
Labor Day is dedicated to honoring and remembering the
achievements of the US worker. It is a national celebration which recognizes
the contributions that American workers have made to the prosperity of their
nation. Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September as a three-day
weekend.
Labor
Day Facts & Quotes
·
The
Central Labor Union observed the first Labor Day holiday in 1882 in New York
City.
·
Labor
Day marks the end of the summer season, the beginning of school and the start
of football season.
·
According
to the rules of fashion, Labor Day Weekend is the last official time where
wearing white is appropriate.
·
All
labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken
with painstaking excellence. - Martin Luther King Jr.
·
Labor
is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor
and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the
superior of capital and deserves much the higher consideration. - Abraham
Lincoln
Labor
Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Attend
a food and fun festival with your family. Most counties run some type of fair
or festival for the long weekend.
·
Take
a mini vacation and enjoy the extra day off with your friends, family or loved
ones.
·
Attend
a local parade. Many cities and towns host a Labor Day parade with lots of fun
and treats for the young ones.
·
Go
camping. Enjoy the last three-day weekend before the weather gets significantly
colder.
·
Go
shopping - many stores hold special sales events the entire weekend.
Recovering Rest for Faith and Family[3]
When workers do not have adequate time to rest, families suffer. Also lost is the necessary time for spiritual growth and building a relationship with God. Pope Francis has said it is "inhuman" that parents must spend so much time working that they cannot play with their children. Surely many wish for more time, but their working conditions do not allow it. As St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, "Even as God rests in Himself alone and is happy in the enjoyment of Himself, so our own sole happiness lies in the enjoyment of God. Thus, also, He makes us find rest in Himself, both from His works and our own. It is not, then, unreasonable to say that God rested in giving rest to us." A culture that obsesses less over endless activity and consumption may, over time, become a culture that values rest for the sake of God and family. Employers ought to consider the total well-being of their employees and prioritize conditions that help them to thrive as human persons. Wages and working hours should support the fundamental needs of people to form and nurture families. The spiritual needs of workers must also be taken into account, so that God may more easily draw them into deeper relationship toward their ultimate purpose.
One of my favorite memories of being stationed as a soldier in Germany was the mandatory closing of shops from Saturday afternoon until early Monday morning. As a result, I was able to spend time with my family walking with them through the beautiful German woodlands. Often, we Volksmarched together. There are Volksmarching Clubs in America take advantage of them with your family this holiday.
Why,
Close Shops? Sunday is a Day to
Synchronize Society[4]
The
construction of tall buildings has become so commonplace in cities around the
globe that the general public gives little thought to the visionaries
responsible for creating a city’s unique skyline. Skyscraper day provides the
opportunity to learn more about the architects who commit a dream to paper and
the construction crews that make it reality. Whoever it was that first
considered placing dwellings on top of each other instead of side-by-side would
be astounded at how modern buildings literally seem to touch the sky. What they
may also find interesting is the status that is often attached to living or
working at the highest level. Although this analogy is obvious there is another
to be drawn from the consequences of a power failure. These are just a few
aspects to ponder on a day that is set aside to reflect on man’s apparent
conquest of upper space.
Angels
are often represented in art as having wings which attest to their ability to
transcend time and space. In fact angels true nature is in reality more like
that of a mirror reflecting the infinite perfections of the Triune God. Just
like men no two angels are alike. No two men, no two women are identical. Yet,
with angels the difference between them is vast and complete and every species
of angel is incredibly lovely and they are perfect having no shadows of
imperfection or defect. It is of paramount importance for us to realize and ask
these holy beings to assist us in our pursuit of happiness for they wish in
every way to share with us God’s love. Their generosity knows no bounds and to
receive their assistance we have only to ask. Unfortunately, we limit their
efforts for our welfare and constantly impede them by our sins and
imperfections. Yet they love men even as imperfect as they are because of the
love of God that flows through them. It is an indescribable delight for them
when they are certain that the merits of the redemption through the Divine
Blood of Christ will not be lost on the souls committed to their care.
3. “For
surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare
and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”
-Jer 29:11
-Jer 29:11
"Read
these counsels slowly. Pause to meditate on these thoughts. They are things
that I whisper in your ear-confiding them-as a friend, as a brother, as a
father. And they are being heard by God. I won't tell you anything new. I will
only stir your memory, so that some thought will arise and strike you; and so
you will better your life and set out along ways of prayer and of Love. And in
the end you will be a more worthy soul."
55. How we should admire sacerdotal purity! It is their treasure. No
tyrant can ever wrest this crown from the Church.
Daily Devotions
[6] St. Michael and the Angels, Tan Books,
1983.
[8]http://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-1.htm
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