Curriculum Support for Catholic Schools: Enhancing the Religious Dimension of Catholic Education Catholic Theme: Dignity of Work and Service Catholic Theme: Dignity of Work and Service 387 Curriculum Support for Catholic Schools: Enhancing the Religious Dimension of Catholic Education Scriptural Story The Labourers in the Vineyard “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the labourers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20: 1-16 Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put in into the heart of Jesus son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord – and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” John 13:1-15 Catholic Theme: Dignity of Work and Service 388 Curriculum Support for Catholic Schools: Enhancing the Religious Dimension of Catholic Education Description & Related Topics Description: The call to work is a fundamental part of our humanity, made in the image and likeness of God. The book of Genesis portrays God as working six days to bring the world into existence. This tells us there is something holy about work. Whether for securing a livelihood or attending to the needs of others, all work is an important way human persons live out their vocation to holiness. Work is a primary way for human persons to express who they are in the world. Jesus, who devoted most of his life to working as a carpenter, shows us the dignity of work and service to others. His modeling of servant leadership calls forth and affirms the giftedness of every human person. Work is therefore more than just a role we play in society. It is a divine call to join in God’s ongoing creative activity in the world, and in a sense, a call to be co-creator with God. Work thus allows us to participate in the building up of the Reign of God. Work and service together thus exists to serve the good of the human person and the common good. Workers have the right to: meaningful work; safe working conditions; participation in decision making processes which affect their work; security in case of sickness, disability, unemployment or old age; and the right to form unions. The economy and means of production exist to serve people, not the other way around. Anchor Concepts: Common Good, Creativity/Design, Discovery, Empowerment, Globalism, Human Dignity, Interdependence, Justice, Lifestyle, Solidarity, Vocation Related Concepts: • SERVICE • CHURCH • EMPLOYMENT / WORKPLACE • LABOUR • DIGNITY OF WORK / FULFILLMENT • INDUSTRIALIZATION • PRODUCTION / PRODUCTIVITY • WEALTH • LEADERSHIP • SERVANT LEADERSHIP • TECHNOLOGY • COLLABORATION • CAREER AND PERSONAL PLANNING • PERSONHOOD AND IDENTITY • PROFIT MOTIVE • ETHICS • COMMUNITY / COMMON GOOD • VOLUNTEERISM • COMMUNITY SERVICE • GIFTS • TALENTS • VOCATION • DISCERNMENT • HOUSEHOLDING Catholic Theme: Dignity of Work and Service 389 Curriculum Support for Catholic Schools: Enhancing the Religious Dimension of Catholic Education Scripture References God Rested from Work on the Seventh Day And on the seventh day, God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work He had done in creation. Genesis 2: 1-3 Against Withholding Wages You shall not withhold the wages of poor and needy labourers, whether other Israelites or aliens who reside in your land in one of your towns. You shall pay them their wages daily before sunset because they are poor and their livelihood depends on them; otherwise they might cry out to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt. Deuteronomy 24: 14-15 Allowing Labourers to Eat from the Harvest You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain. Deuteronomy 25: 4 Serving God (not Wealth) Through Work You cannot serve God and wealth. Matthew 6: 24 Light of the World: Good Works Glorifying God You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5: 14-16 Faithfulness to Work Rewarded Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. Matthew 24: 45-47 Jesus Glorified the Father by His Work I have glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. John 17: 4 Apostle Paul, Tentmaker After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. Thee he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, Paul went to see them, and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together –by trade they were tentmakers. Acts 18: 1-3 Working to Please God Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your asters, since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3: 23-24 Faith Without Works is Dead What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. James 2: 14-17 Catholic Theme: Dignity of Work and Service 390 Curriculum Support for Catholic Schools: Enhancing the Religious Dimension of Catholic Education Avoid Idleness Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us.