Labor Day

There are all sorts of holidays throughout the year. Some of them are religious in nature (Christmas and Easter), while others salute the armed forces (Memorial Day and Veterans Day). This past Monday though, was Labor Day. Everything, for the most part, shuts down.

Many look at it as just a long weekend, a chance to grill one last time before the frigid air of fall and winter finally moves in. But, we have the day off for a reason, an important reason. Much like Memorial Day, the unofficial beginning of summer, Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, is under appreciated.

But, once again, it's time to look at this a little differently. We all work hard on a daily basis at our respective positions. Whether you're a businessman or a teacher, a day off is a blessing. It's also a time though, to reflect and pray for those who, even though it's a national holiday, still had to wake up and go into the workplace.

How do you think that newscast at 6pm went on? Anchors and reporters worked all Labor Day to put that together, most likely without any overtime hours.

How did that grass on the golf course you played on get cut? Well, someone was up before sunrise on the mower making sure the course looked nice.

Yup, those 24-hour operators weren't an automation either, as people had to come in and work so you could have your high definition satellite television fixed on the telephone.

Every job is different, some more different than others. Some baseball players only play once every five days, and get millions to do that. Others work 80 hours a week for just enough money to support their family.

It's a slippery slope, the job market. God wants us to be happy and love what we do. Usually, the more you like something, the harder you'll work and you'll be better at performing the tasks over the course of the day. However, out of necessity, some have to take the job, or jobs, that are available where they live. It's much harder to love work when one is forced to do it. We need to pray for those people, that they will work through those tough times, and find their niche, that will be both beneficial to their bank account and their well being.

I bring up the fact that we need money because this week's Gospel can be tough to handle. Who wants to renounce all of their possessions? How would one live, and support their loved ones, in those conditions? We don't necessarily have to take Jesus literally here. There are a few possibilities as to what exactly he means...

-He could be saying that we need to get rid of our lavish, gluttonous possessions. The stuff that we don't really need. Houses with 7 extra bedrooms, 4 extra cars for only 2 people, diamonds upon diamonds for your spouse...stuff like that. Those funds can go to better causes, that would help others out much much more.

But I have another thought that might be a bit more practical for those that don't have the funds to buy a million cars...

-Maybe Jesus is saying that we need to renounce the possessions of our mind. The thoughts of doubt, negativity, self-pity, and cynicism all are thoughts that bring us down in every way possible. They "possess" and take over our minds as well, not letting or shutting out anything good that wants to come in. By stripping those away, or getting to the root of those thoughts, we make room for Jesus, and his words. Think of the focus you can have during Church. Imagine hanging on every word the Priest says throughout mass...now that would be an accomplishment for the greater good.


Ok, so Labor Day? Let's tie it together. It's easy to take our own jobs and salary for granted, but let's appreciate those that work behind the scenes to make everyday life possible. Their happiness and well being at home depends solely on the money coming in from their job. For others, it's time to give all that extra money to those people in need, so that we can indeed have that piece of mind to rid ourselves of negativity. Life is too short to dread our job, or coming home, or random things in life in general. Don't be that miserable person, be that person who brightens everyone's day.

So, with your own possessive negativity renounced...why not start a pleasant conversation with that cashier on their last leg, and maybe inspire them to do the same.