WORK
“Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.” – Saint Augustine
Yet God, who wishes to work with us and who counts on our cooperation, can also bring good out of the evil we have done. (Pope Francis, LS, #80)
If we reflect on the proper relationship between human beings and the world around us, we see the need for a correct understanding of work; (LS, #125) We were created with a vocation to work. (Pope Francis, LS, #128)
“Do your work within the appointed time and the Lord in his time will give you his reward.” (Sirach 51:30, Christian Community Bible)
REFLECTION: Work is the means by which the human person is recognized in the society. All of us are expected to do our share in order for us to live in harmony and peace. As regards our work towards creation, God has shown us in the creation story that work is very essential. Also, in the same story, we are given the work to take good care of the whole creation. As co-workers of God, we continue to be active in protecting the things in creation. We also need to be creative in beautifying and developing them. The untoward situations, like poverty, crimes, and the like that are happening around the world boil down to the problem of work. In other words, unemployment, laziness, incompetence, and corruption are but manifestations of the same problem on labor worldwide.
Key Statement: God has given us the work to take good care of the whole creation.
Personal Challenge: I am to realign my work to the plan of God.
PRAYER
God, the creative spirit, we thank You for giving us each day as an opportunity to work with You through Your creation. May we be productive and creative through our respective works. Sustain our strength to work with honest hands. May we be blessed with the fruit of our labor. May the people all over the world be reminded of their purpose and mission to work for the betterment of the whole creation. May our hands become carriers of Your good works. We offer You Lord our best and bless our works. Amen.
ROMANO M. BULATAO is a Professor at Saint Louis University (SLU), Baguio City. He completed his AB Philosophy in 1990 at the Saint Anthony Mary Claret College (SAMCC), Quezon City; MA Religious Studies in 2003, and MA Philosophy in 2014, both in SLU; Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Theology, Major in Missiology, at the Institute for Consecrated Life in Asia (ICLA) – SAMCC in 2021. Mr. Bulatao served as the Department Head of Religion at SLU (2006-2009); and President of the Kapatirang Claretiano Inc. – Pangasinan Chapter (KCI-PC), since 2011. He is the author of the book entitled Touching Thoughts A-Z published in 2009; translator of the Novena to Saint Anthony Mary Claret (from Pangasinan language to English) published in 2015; and the Novena kay San Antonio Maria Claret (from Pangasinan language to Filipino) published in 2020 by the Claretian Publications. ((romanobulatao@yahoo.com)
