Work for God

   “He who labors as he prays lifts his heart to God with his hands.” (St. Benedict)

   Opus Dei, work of God, is the practice of offering everything we do to God as a form of praying.  It recognizes that we can do nothing without Him and therefore need to honor Him in our daily lives.  In this way we can better follow the advice of St. Paul to pray always; we can make all we do a prayer.  We can never work our way to heaven but by offering our work to Him we can live a life that will help put us on that path.

   Working for God is not a career that ends with a retirement of rest and ease.  It is a lifetime job in which there may be very little rest and more difficulty than ease.  And yet the rewards for doing the job well are far greater than anything this world has to offer.

   There are any number of professions or jobs and they are vital to our own well-being.  But the job of sharing whatever we have is the work of God.  It sometimes seems that those who have the least are the most likely to share with others who have less.  Pride, selfishness and greed keep many who have resources to share from doing so.  Satan would have us believe earthly wealth is only for those who have it rather than sharing with those who need it.

   Whether washing dishes, mowing the lawn or working in a factory we can offer our efforts to God.  Whether a surgeon, lawyer, politician or Priest, we can praise God in our daily duties.  We can pray always and give God our labors in whatever we do.  When coupled with faith, hope and charity we are walking God’s path, the path to retirement with Him in our heavenly home.

God, You bless us in so many ways.

May we offer all we do to You.

Let our labors give You praise and glory.

May we follow the path that leads to You.

Amen