Homily of the Rev. Dr. David A. Killian
Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost
November 18, 2007
All Saints Parish
Brookline, Massachusetts
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
I
Yesterday on our parish's volunteer work-day, a group of us were raking leaves on the lawn outside the church. Someone walking by noticed the large pile of leaves and put her hands together in a gesture as if to dive in the leaf pile. She said, "That is so tempting – it makes me remember my childhood days." One of the leaf rakers, Kendrew Caporal, replied, "Yes, wouldn't we all like to be kids again?" And even though we didn't jump into that leaf pile, we all were enjoying the cool, crisp fall air, the vibrant, red, orange, and yellow leaves, and this opportunity to work together. Our work didn't feel like drudgery. It wasn't forced. It was pleasant. It was satisfying. It was freely chosen. It was something we wanted to do and we felt good doing it.
Now, that does not seem to be the attitude of the people in Thessalonica. In today's epistle, Paul tells them, "We hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right."
II
If St. Paul had visited our parish yesterday, he would not have complained that we were "living in idleness." Not only would he have seen the leaf-rakers, he could have come inside and seen David and Marianne Evett leading a workshop for parishioners on the Revised Common Lectionary, Becky Taylor painting a wall in the Undercroft, a music class conducted by the Longy School, a twelve-step meeting, and hundreds of people at the Corner Coop Crafts Fair. Paul would not have seen much idleness here yesterday morning.
Why was it so different at Thessalonica 2,000 years ago? Well, some first-generation Christians thought the Lord Jesus was going to return any day now – and if the world was coming to an end why waste time going to work? Better to just sit idle and wait for the Lord to come.
What can Paul teach us about work? First, our work is a partnership with God; second, the fruit of our work is to be shared; third, we are called to rest from our work, not in idleness but in renewal.
First, our work is a partnership with God. As a good Jew Paul sought to live out God's injunction in Genesis that entrusts humans with responsibility to tend the garden and exercise stewardship over the earth. Our work therefore is holy, a participation in God's own work. Paul himself was a hard worker, a tent-maker who was proud of his craft.
Second, the fruits of our work are to be shared. The early Christians lived an ethic of caring for one another. In the book of Acts, we read that the early Christian community pooled their goods and cared for the poorest members in their midst. Paul is continually urging Christians who live in outlying areas to send donations to support the church in Jerusalem. As a good Jew, Paul observed the Biblical injunction of giving a tithe, 10% of his produce, back to God. Some of you in this community are following this Biblical rule and are tithers. Others give an intentional proportion of income back to God in recognition that your abundance is a gift from God and you wish to show your gratitude by giving back a percentage to the Lord.
Third, we are called to rest from our work, not in idleness but in renewal. Paul was not a workaholic. As a good Jew, he worked for six days, but on the seventh day he rested. On the Sabbath he went to the synagogue, he prayed, he entered into discussion, and he spent time with family and friends. It was a time to renew and refresh his spirit.
As Christians, we are called to find balance in our lives between work and leisure. We are called to see our work as holy, a partnership with the Creator, building up the human community. We are called to give back a portion of the gains from our work to God in thanksgiving for what we have received.
III
But what about people who are unemployed or underemployed or who are dis-satisfied with their work? Here at All Saints Parish we offer a support group for people who are unemployed or underemployed. Our meetings begin with introductions and check-in. Each person is given time to present an update on his or her situation, current attempts to find work, postings they are following, prospects that might lead to employment. Other members then give feedback and ideas. Some provide information about places that are hiring. Others suggest resources such as help in revising one's resume or for networking. Some provide information about a job-seekers group that meets weekly to provide consultation for professionals seeking employment.
The group then moves to the African Bible method of Bible study, reflection and sharing in which the Gospel passage is read three times and each person reflects on "What is God calling me to do or be this week?" Each person applies the Gospel to his or her situation. Often, a person might say, "God is calling me to keep from getting discouraged in my job search and to keep looking for a job." If any of you have ever been out of work, you know how difficult and discouraging that can be. And then we close our meeting for praying for each other. I am reminded that our prayer also is a work – and that the prayer of someone who is unemployed is no less valuable than the prayer of the person who has a full-time job. In fact, it may be more heart felt. God hears the prayers of each and every person.
This group is teaching me that we need to make a distinction between our jobs and our vocation. No matter what our particular job may be – and whether we are satisfied in that job or not; whether we are unemployed or underemployed, we each have a vocation – a calling – to serve the Lord in our daily life, at home, at work, at school, at rest, and at play.
Not just paid work. Volunteer work. On Thursday of this week I went down to our kitchen to see people chopping vegetables, stirring pots on the stove, and then carrying food out to their cars, driving downtown to St. John's Church on Bowdoin Street and serving a meal to 100 people who Anne Marie Ellis calls "our friends living on the margins." This is hard work, but I don't think any of the volunteers was complaining. Just the opposite. And as for getting paid, they would tell you that they received more than what they gave – they had the privilege of being able to feed a fellow human being.
We are called in our lives to mirror the life of God. God worked to create the heavens and the earth, and then stopped. God rested. God appreciated the goodness of what had been made. God enjoyed having created. God calls us to work, to worship, to play and to rest – to participate in building the earth and to enjoy God's beautiful creation.
Amen.