Didache 12:1-5; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-9
On this Labor Day Sunday, we’re honoring the request of national unions to celebrate Labor in the Pulpit. That gives us an opportunity to acknowledge the important differences unions have made in American history. Those of us who have only lived under fair labor laws, OSHA regulations and such need to remember that life in our country wasn’t always as safe and fair as we have known it. Safety rules, the five-day work week and 8-hour day, the right to bargain for fair wages workers compensation for injuries, benefits including healthcare, sick leave, vacation days and holidays – these can be taken for granted as a way of life, but they haven’t always been so, and for some people they still aren’t a reality. The work that unions have done on our behalf and that government has supported when it supported unions matters. And it matters when we see many of those rights eroding in this moment as contracts are ignored and workers’ rights threatened.
In that context, we read our two scripture passages, both written in the first century BCE in similar communities of Jesus’ followers. Both the Didache and the second letter to the church in Thessalonica show concern with people travelling through and needing to work. Although it’s unlikely that Paul himself wrote 2nd Thessalonians, the author was familiar with Paul’s practice of staying several months or more with churches he was founding and supporting himself as a tentmaker while he was in town. He worked for his livelihood and taught about Jesus after hours.
The Didache is a training manual for early Christian communities and introduces us to the reality that these communities served as hostels ar BNB’s for many who followed Jesus and were traveling through. Scholars suggest that many of these folks could have been escaped slaves, men released from debtors’ prison, or those fleeing violence in their villages. The Didache presumes that many travelers who needed to stay more than a couple of days before moving on to a farther destination were healing from some trauma. The community could well want to provide a safe place for these folks, but they needed a plan to do so without them bankrupting people who were mostly themselves poor. They are encouraged to make a plan: who can employ these people as an apprentice, or give them space in the corner of a shop to use a skill they already have? How can they lend an extra hand to someone already in business while they are getting their feet on the ground?
The need for people to work isn’t only economic, although certainly if people were going to eat, they needed to contribute to the grocery bill. People who have lost everything need to know they still have value. Finding a skill and earning a living is healing to a broken heart. Becoming a productive member of the community gives a person dignity and hope. Having work and purpose is good for everyone. Just like in our day, helping people find work is rehabilitative.
Over our lifetimes the meaning of work and its social reality have shifted. Once among the middle class mostly the men worked for pay and the women took care of the family. Before that many families were farmers and everyone worked to be sure the family ate and was clothed. Those at the lowest income levels have always worked, needing two incomes or more to cover the basics. We’ve watched the workforce become more diverse and inclusive. We’re watching now as hundreds of thousands of workers are arrested and deported, not knowing what that will do to industry and business. Some folks assume that those who don’t work are lazy, without considering shortcomings in training or health care or mental health treatment. When most of the population lived in very small towns, people divided up the jobs that needed doing and each worker played an important role. When towns became much larger and less personal, there weren’t always jobs in places where there were people. Our town struggles with some workers without transportation being able to get to where the jobs happen. Some who want to work have no affordable child care. I suspect that we’re at a new inflection point and we’re going to see many changes in just a few years. Will the minimum wage become a living wage? Will everyone receive benefits that make work possible – sick leave, health insurance, retraining as new skills are needed?
With more questions than answers about the world of work, it’s good for us to celebrate the people who stand up for workers, like the unions. We need the people who ask the important questions and suggest helpful solutions. If we’re going to see big changes, we need to work together to push those changes in positive directions. We could use a little out-of-the-box thinking about what workers deserve, how we all benefit from various skills and jobs, and how to thank those who do work we would never want to do ourselves. I’ve long wanted to celebrate Labor Day and unions by recognizing the importance of the work that we do – real jobs for real people – so today we’re going to do that. If you got the word in advance and have brought a symbol of your own work, great. We’ll take turns creating a work display on the alter. Please say a few words about the work you’ve chosen to celebrate and why. If you don’t have an object, please join us in celebrating by sharing just the words. What matters to you about what you do for a living or as a volunteer. We can take our time and enjoy these stories. When we finish we’ll pray the prayer provided by the AFL-CIO and enjoy Ron’s music as a finale.