REFLECTION: On Labor Day, Human Work Made New

In proclaiming this gospel of work, John Paul developed a theme that is rooted in the Sacred Scriptures, expounded upon at length in the Christian Tradition and is desperately needed in this age. In 1981 he authored an Encyclical letter entitled “On Human Work” which beautifully presented this Christian vision of the dignity and meaning of human work. We live in an age that has all but lost this Christian vision of the meaning of work. This is not a new problem. It is a part of a larger social and individual malady, a bad fruit of the rupture of human integrity and solidarity wrought by sin.

In the “industrial age”, men and women were often reduced to mere instruments in a society that emphasized “productivity” over the dignity of the human person, the worker. The “technological age” promised more “time” for leisure and freedom but sadly has failed to deliver. To come to a new understanding of the dignity of human labor requires what St Paul rightly called a “renewal of the mind” (See, Romans 12:2). Pope John Paul told those assembled that because work "has been profaned by sin and contaminated by egoism," it is an activity that "needs to be redeemed." He reminded those gathered that "Jesus was a man of work and that work enabled him to develop his humanity”. He emphasized that "the work of Nazareth constituted for Jesus a way to dedicate himself to the 'affairs of the Father,'" witnessing that "the work of the Creator is prolonged" through work and that therefore “…according to God's providential plan, man, by working, realizes his own humanity and that of others: In fact, work 'forms man and, in a certain sense, creates him….”

Maybe I flatter myself-- perhaps wildly so-- in my ability to comprehend but the above exerted article is one of the most puzzling I have read in many a moon.

To wit:

"...this Christian vision of the dignity and meaning of human work. We live in an age that has all but lost this Christian vision of the meaning of work...."
Which is...?

"This is not a new problem."
What is "new"? This year? This century? This generation?

"It is a part of a larger social and individual malady, a bad fruit of the rupture of human integrity and solidarity wrought by sin."
What are we talking about here? This unspecified "new problem" is part of a social and individual malady? Which is what? Sin? Since when has sin--and all its numberless feeder roots--become a "new problem"? Has sin been somehow increased and strengthen by the harnessing of steam and of electricity?

In the “industrial age”, men and women were often reduced to mere instruments in a society that emphasized “productivity” over the dignity of the human person, the worker.
Oh,unlike like in the Socialist/Disney version of the pre-Industrail world,right?

The “technological age” promised more “time” for leisure and freedom but sadly has failed to deliver.
First of all, what's with all the quotes? Obviously the quotes = "so they say", but do we not live in the Industrial Age? Do we not have more time for do the things we wish? It seems we have no time simply b/c we pack more and more (or are expected to) into the time we have, thanks to the labor saving devises we now possess.

To come to a new understanding of the dignity of human labor requires what St Paul rightly called a “renewal of the mind” (See, Romans 12:2).
With all respect, Paul mentioned this in re: the will of God, not human labor.

"...work 'has been profaned by sin and contaminated by egoism," it is an activity that "needs to be redeemed.'
What in the world does that mean? The hip replacement surgeon; the speech therapist; the CPA at Dolley Madison bakery; the forest ranger; the guy behind the counter at Tire Discounter.... has their work been profaned by sin and contaminated by egotism? Does the work of the county agent, Joe the UPS driver, or the aluminum siding installer somehow need to be redeemed?

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