Do I HAVE to Work?

Work is something that most people try to avoid. And yet, the Catholic Church teaches that it is integral to human life. What do we make of this?

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[ernestbastide]

I have been a bus driver for 45 years and still enjoy my job. I am a practicing Catholic. This story is little long so please bare with me. I used to drive the bus to one of our large hospitals and to our cancer clinic here in Edmonton, Alberta. Every morning I would pick up this lady say "good morning" and visit. She would get off at the cancer clinic. One morning she got on the bus and informed that her husband had passed away. She began to cry and I too began to cry. She informed me that she so enjoyed the morning bus ride and looked forward to riding the bus to visit her very ill husband. She gave me a beautiful card of thanks. It is very true "Life is what you make of it" you touch so many people with small acts of kindness. Thank you Father!

[Vassileva]

I almost died of a serious brain infection in my 20s, pleaded for more time and was gifted it despite the odds.

I repair aircraft.

In my 30s I grounded dozens of passenger jets due to a catastrophic latent failure that could have cost thousands of human lives.

That was my work, that’s why I survived.

[reedrougeau]

You and Fr. Mike Schmitz should do a podcast together

[xeniadv]

I am sorry I would like to keep working! I enjoy being a librarian. I do not see it as work. I see it as helping and inspiring the kids or students to love reading. Reading will take you everywhere.

[carlachua]

Working from home during this pandemic has been making me really lazy and ungrateful. I needed this so much. Thank you Fr. Casey!

[IONATVS]

I think the issue with the fantasy of saying “I quit” is not that people don’t want to work—anyone who’s been unemployed for a long time will tell you otherwise, and most tests of things like UBI show that people are happy to work even if they don’t need to to live—but that so many people are forced to put up with terrible, unfulfilling, poorly-paying jobs just to survive, when they would much rather work just as hard at something that payed next to nothing but just wasn’t, well, soul-crushing. The Fantasy of quitting a job and never working again is there, but if people gave it real deep thought, most would realize that it was just the specific job they had that they hated, not working itself.

[billhuntillustration]

You are so right Father. I retired and for about 3 years just did all the things I wanted to do when working full time. I should have been happy, but felt empty. When is started volunteering and giving back things changed completely. Our hearts are restless until they rest in God.

[kwkw]

We were created for meaningful purposeful work. Unfortunately many workplaces are abusive and exploitative and down right toxic. Even just surviving and behaving ethically beats you down.

[hassiearaya]

I have 8 more years of wk then I hope to retire and volunteer in three areas a church a animal shelter a hospital or nursing home. I plan on helping as much as I can

[marykaten]

One of my friends believes the purpose of life is "to leave the world a little better than you found it". And that is the purpose of his working. I wish I could claim he is a devout Roman Catholic but he is more like an atheist. Needless to say, I applaud his devotion to what he believes. I still feel God is directing his actions.

[fabriziocaragiulo]

I have hard time making sense of the video in such a time where most of workplaces are plainly exploting and abusive.

[johncaron]

Sadly, a great many employers have ruined the joys of work for their employees. That is the issue!

[Mari_Oh]

Not being forced into wage slavery ( meaning someone rents you for most of your time instead of owning you 24/7, and many bosses still act as if they do own you 24/7) because you have to in order to survive is not the same as wanting to do nothing, or laze on a beach.

If you had your survival needs met, you would still do meaningful things with your life, contribute to others, to the world, and to society, just without being forced into an awful job that sucks out your soul and takes 90% of your waking hours.

I've been lucky to be educated, so now I can do a job that helps others and is not physically exhausting. But most people, including me before higher education, do something they hate, just to survive, often wearing out their body in the process.

Being a laborer slave is hardly the peak of fulfillment or flourishing as a human being. We certainly shouldn't build our whole identity around being a good labor cog to keep the elite class happy.

[johnmccrossan]

As a cog in a factory I can confirm, it's absolutely possible but I'd say most other jobs have an easier time at it.

[old-moose]

There is a checkout clerk at Walmart named Vicky. Her line is always twice, even 3 times as long as other lines. She is a bit slower because of a handicap but she is also joy become flesh. She remembers our names. She expresses concern when we buy bandages or pain killers. Asks us about our pets when we buy pet food. And she gives me a bad time about buying the candy I clearly don't need. God bless Vicky. Thank you for a good explanation of the ideal goal of work.

[jimevans]

If you win a large lottery really the first thing to do is not quit your job see a lawyer and set up everything legally so that you have income for life. Tell no one except your wife or significant other, as you'd be surprised how many people will come to you for a loan. You can continue at your secular job but as for me I would set up a charitable foundation which I would run to charitable work for the rest of my life. After this covid-19 epidemic is over I would also travel the world.

[TheWheelingDragonInn]

Love all of your videos Fr. Casey but can you please make a video or two addressing Catholics with disabilities and chronic illnesses?

[LoveIsElectroMusic]

This is exactly what I needed to hear since I have been several break downs this year because of my job. As time passes, I get sad that I am struggling to enjoy my job for many reason and no longer feel that spark, thus losing my motivation on occasion to do my best. I am very grateful to have a good paying job, but it seems as I get older, I see that I am nothing but a number in my current company. Sometimes I still go through a mental tug of war of my morals with doing my job, but I pray I over come this and continue to trust in the good Lord and to not give up no matter how hard it can get. 🙏🙏🙏

[ezrajonathan]

I worked in a mind numbing deskjob for 11 years. It was not always bad, but I felt deep inside I should do something else, but was to afraid to lose the security the job gave. When I was let go because the company had to shrink its personnel size, I 'took a leap of faith' so to speak. Right now I' m a nursing student at age 41 and have never been more happy, proud and humbled at the same time. Even with current pandemic raging. It's an awesome job and very fulfilling. I can safely say I found my vocation.

[JesusIsLove]

Praise the Lord Jesus Christ 🙏 Mother Mary Pray For Us 🙏Abba Father Bless us and we Adore You 🙏