(source: hr.ucsb.edu)
What does Labor Day mean for most people today? Perhaps the "unofficial" end of the summer season; perhaps the beginning of a new school year. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps ... lost to our times seems to be the notion of work. Especially at a time when so many have lost their employment, celebrating work might be difficult for the millions who were gainfully employed just two years ago.
What is the meaning of St. Paul's words in the chosen selection of his words to the followers in Thessaloniki. At first reading what the great apostle is writing may seem confusing. He commends the people on all that they have been doing to live a good, Christ-like life.
Especially, he notes, their care "for the brother throughout Macedonia." Macedonia was a major area between what is now Greece and Serbia. Thessaloniki was its leading city and there are remains from the early city. Enough geography. Back to prayer!
The final part of the last sentence from the reading for today, however could be confusing. A newer translation may help us understand Paul's exhortation to the Thessalonians:
11Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Clearly Paul is telling his followers of the value of work: that it is a sign to others of personal values on the one hand and secondly that one would not need to rely on others for support.
That tranquility we read in the translation linked above, or the quiet life as another translation suggests, point to this: a tranquil life, a quiet life, affords us the pathway to be more focused upon ourselves and what we do with our time, our talent and our treasure.
