This conversation, led by Father Mike Schmitz from Ascension Presents, explores the theological perspective on work, using insights from the Bible, particularly the book of Genesis.
Father Mike begins by addressing young people who are seeking to find meaningful and fulfilling work for their lives. He emphasizes that the desire for meaningful work is important, but it should be approached with a theological lens.
He discusses the concept of God's plan for work, referencing the book of Genesis. He explains that God is a worker and created humans in His image and likeness, intending for them to work, rest, and love. However, the story doesn't end in Genesis 2, but continues into Genesis 3, where sin enters the world.
Father Mike explains that as a result of sin, we experience leisure, labor, and love differently than how they were intended. He argues that every act of work, regardless of its nature, has dignity because it is a human act and contributes to our identity and purpose.
He also points out that work serves a purpose beyond personal fulfillment or identity. It is meant to support our living and can be offered as an act of worship to God.
Father Mike concludes by encouraging listeners to view their work not as their identity or a source of fulfillment, but as a way to serve God and contribute to the world.
1. The speaker, Fr. Mike Schmitz, lives in and works in a college campus, often interacting with young people who are trying to figure out their career paths.
2. The speaker empathizes with the desire for a job that is meaningful and fulfilling, understanding the longing to avoid wasting life on a job that doesn't matter.
3. The speaker suggests looking at God's plan for work to approach this question, acknowledging that work is often seen as something to be avoided or something that provides fulfillment.
4. The speaker refers to the book of Genesis, stating that God himself is a worker and creator, and that God places humans in the garden to cultivate and care for it.
5. The speaker identifies three key aspects of God's plan for humans: labor, leisure, and love.
6. The speaker explains that when humans labor, they are participating in God's identity and nature. Similarly, when humans rest and love, they are sharing in God's identity and nature.
7. The speaker discusses how the story in Genesis doesn't end in Chapter 2, but continues into Chapter 3, where sin enters the world.
8. The speaker explains that as a result of sin, the three aspects of God's plan (leisure, labor, and love) are experienced differently than they were intended.
9. The speaker emphasizes that every act of work has dignity, regardless of the nature of the work, because it is a human act and humans have dignity.
10. The speaker suggests that the purpose of work is not just to provide an identity or fulfillment, but to enable one to live, and that the goal of life is to live with labor, leisure, and love.
11. The speaker mentions that any work, when offered to God, can become an act of worship.