SECULAR WORK VERSUS CHURCH WORK

20150826 SECULAR WORK VERSUS CHURCH WORK

Readings at Mass

First reading

1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 ©

Let me remind you, brothers, how hard we used to work, slaving night and day so as not to be a burden on any one of you while we were proclaiming God’s Good News to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, that our treatment of you, since you became believers, has been impeccably right and fair. You can remember how we treated every one of you as a father treats his children, teaching you what was right, encouraging you and appealing to you to live a life worthy of God, who is calling you to share the glory of his kingdom. Another reason why we constantly thank God for you is that as soon as you heard the message that we brought you as God’s message, you accepted it for what it really is, God’s message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power among you who believe it.

Psalm

Psalm 138:7-12 ©

O Lord, you search me and you know me.

O where can I go from your spirit,

  or where can I flee from your face?

If I climb the heavens, you are there.

  If I lie in the grave, you are there.

O Lord, you search me and you know me.

If I take the wings of the dawn

  and dwell at the sea’s furthest end,

even there your hand would lead me,

  your right hand would hold me fast.

O Lord, you search me and you know me.

If I say: ‘Let the darkness hide me

  and the light around me be night,’

even darkness is not dark for you

  and the night is as clear as the day.

O Lord, you search me and you know me.

Gospel Acclamation

Mt4:4

Alleluia, alleluia!

Man does not live on bread alone,

but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Alleluia!

Or

1Jn2:5

Alleluia, alleluia!

Whenever anyone obeys what Christ has said,

God’s love comes to perfection in him.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Matthew 23:27-32 ©

Jesus said, ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who are like whitewashed tombs that look handsome on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of corruption. In the same way you appear to people from the outside like good honest men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

  ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who build the sepulchres of the prophets and decorate the tombs of holy men, saying, “We would never have joined in shedding the blood of the prophets, had we lived in our fathers’ day.” So! Your own evidence tells against you! You are the sons of those who murdered the prophets! Very well then, finish off the work that your fathers began.’

SECULAR WORK VERSUS CHURCH WORK

SCRIPTURE READINGS: 1THESSALONIANS 2:9-13; MATTHEW 23:27-32

There are many Catholics who sincerely desire to serve God and to grow in holiness but they feel torn between doing church work and secular work; between being involved in mundane activities and religious work.   Many Catholics labour under the false notion that secular work is not religious work.  Hence, many fervent Catholics look forward to early retirement so that they can serve in the Church full time or give themselves to Catholic charitable organizations.  Quite often, we hear remarks that they have made enough money, so now is pay-back time to the Lord.

On the other hand, we have many Catholics who are involved in Church work.  They think that just because they are engaged in Church activities, like being in the choir, lector or warden ministries, they are therefore doing God’s work.  Behind this thinking therefore is the notion that because they have rendered services to the Church, they could be better assured of a place in heaven because at least they have something to report to the Lord when it comes to judgment day.   Yet, such thinking is always false.

So what, then, is the difference between secular work and religious work? 

The first difference lies in the nature of the work itself.  Church work implies those activities that are related to the operations of the Church, including her ancillary activities of outreach and service to the community.  Of course, in a more specific way, we refer to those activities that are connected with the liturgy and catechesis.  It would also include all other activities that are directly connected with the Church or the Catholic religion, like those in bible cell groups, neighbourhood groups, organizations and movements.

Secular work gives the connotation that it belongs to the world.  In other words, it is concerned with things that are profane versus sacred, material versus spiritual, earthly versus the transcendent.  Secular work therefore would include all human activities, whether in the social, political or economic spheres.  It would include all mundane daily activities, our work, household chores, looking after the sick, teaching our children and living as a family.  In a word, it concerns the development of this world and of humanity.

However, secular need not necessarily be distinguished from religious work.  Similarly, Church work need not be identified with religious work. Thus, the real question confronting us today is not so much the difference between secular and Church work but between secular/Church work and religious work.

All secular work when done with the intention to glorify God is religious work.  This is what the responsorial psalm says.  “O where can I go from your spirit, or where can I flee from your face? If I climb the heavens, you are there.  If I lie in the grave, you are there. If I take the wings of the dawn and dwell at the sea’s furthest end, even there your hand would lead me, your right hand would hold me fast.”  The Lord is present in the whole of creation.  God invites us to be His co-creators of this earth.  The world is filled with the glory of God.  When secular work is done with a conscious desire to bring glory to God and to develop humanity and creation, it must be considered as truly religious work.  All human and secular work, when sanctified and consecrated to the Lord, are religious work.  That is why the Liturgy of the Hours seek to consecrate the whole day and its activities to the lord.

Conversely, even Church work is not religious work when it is done without the desire to glorify God.  Today, many Catholics are active in Church ministry, but many are serving for the wrong reasons.  Some are there simply because of friends.  Others serve in order to feel important and admired.  Many serve out of guilt for fear that God will punish them otherwise.  Then there are others who serve hoping that by serving God and the Church, God will bless and protect them.  However, when we serve with the wrong motives like the Jewish leaders, then the most “sacred” form of religious work, like distributing Holy Communion, serving as lectors, funeral ministers, etc are not religious work.  It is “religious work” in terms of the work itself but certainly, it does not sanctify the person performing it.

Indeed, Jesus condemned the Jewish leaders for being hypocritical by appearing to be doing religious work when it was for their glory and self-interests.   They simply wanted to look good before the eyes of men.   True religious work must not be like “whitewashed tombs that look handsome on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of corruption.” True religious work must come from pure motives of love and sincere desire to honour and worship God.   Truly, quite often, people are scandalized by so called religious people, whether those of the collar or the habit, or active Church workers, because their behaviour and conduct do not agree with what they preach and teach.  They live a double life and are not sincere in helping people.  It is a matter of creating a good impression.

In contrast we have St Paul who is the exemplar of a Christian who combines secular work with Church work.  We read in the first reading that he worked and slaved day and night to pay for his own expenses “so as not to be a burden on any one of you while we were proclaiming God’s Good News to you.”  His way of sanctifying God was to earn his keep and at the same time, by witnessing to God’s life in Him by living a life of love, justice and truth.

However, the highest degree of religious work is not working for God but allowing God to work in and through us.   Scripture everywhere reminds us that it is not we who work for God but God who works for us.  “A king is not saved by his army, nor a warrior preserved by his strength. A vain hope for safety is the horse; despite its power it cannot save.” (Ps 33:16f)  St Paul wrote, “Another reason why we constantly thank God for you is that as soon as you heard the message that we brought you as God’s message, you accepted it for what it really is, God’s message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power among you who believe it.”  So it is not enough to be doing the work for God.  What is more important is to allow God to work in and through us as St Paul did.  He allowed God to manifest His power in His weakness.  “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Cor 4:7)  He also said, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor 12:9f)

Nevertheless, secular work in the arena of the laity proclaiming Christ in the world does not forbid or exclude them from being involved in Church related activities and functions.  On the contrary, it is necessary that Catholics who are involved in secular work and mundane activities find strength from their union with the Catholic community through some form of contact and fellowship, especially in study, prayer and worship.  Otherwise, they would be left without sufficient formation in their doctrinal and spiritual life and be without the support of fellow Catholics when they are serving in the world.  The danger is that Catholics who are so involved in secular work, whether in politics, commerce, social work or even in non-governmental agencies often become too worldly in their approach to life, charity, justice and truth.  The values of the world often run contrary to the values of the gospel.  Without being infused with faith, we cannot suffuse the world with the presence of Christ, His love and compassionate presence.

Written by The Most Rev William Goh

Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore

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