MAKING WORK HOLY

“Do not think that saintliness comes from occupation; it depends rather on what one is. The kind of work we do does not make us holy, but we may make it holy.” Meister Eckhart (1260-1328)

Depending on what we do for a living, it can be very difficult to think of our work (our job) as holy… or anything near holy. In my past I have been around a lot of construction work… a good bit of the atmosphere around these jobsites was thoroughly unholy… that’s saying it nicely. But, so what?

Lots of people work in rank and rough environments. It doesn’t have to be construction workers, oilfield workers, or loggers or truck drivers… the bank and real estate office can have the same unholy godless environment. Our highest political leaders can be the rankest crowd in town it appears. There is no stereotype for sin except sin.

We cannot make our work holy; we can only try to present ourselves in the holiest and purest behavior as possible. Nothing in work is holy or unholy… only the people who do the work can be holy or unholy.

“We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.” Jesus