PART X– A DAY FOR JUSTICE
It should not be forgotten that even in our own day work is very oppressive for many people, either because of miserable working conditions and long hours – especially in the poorer regions of the world – or because of the persistence in economically more developed societies of too many cases of injustice and exploitation of humans by humans. (Pope John Paul II, Dies Domini, 66).

WORDS TO LIVE BY
Down through the centuries, the Church has consistently called for Sunday to be a day of rest, especially for those who are servants and workers. In this way, their own burden is made lighter. In fact Pope Leo XIII argued rightly that it is the Church’s obligation to fight for justice for those who are oppressed by their work, and to insist upon Sunday as a “right” and not merely a privilege. We who are free from work to rest on Sunday must fight for our neighbors who are not. Hence, it is the call of all Christians to seek justice for all: jobs for the jobless who must remain idle even on workdays, and time off for those who are forced to work too hard for wages that are too low.

FOR REFLECTION
Do you have difficulty getting “free time” on Sundays for rest and to attend the liturgy? Is it because of your work or because of the personal choices you make? Is there something you can do to change this? If you are one with the freedom for rest on Sunday, how can you assist others who need rest?

YOUR COMMITMENT
If you are indeed unable to rest from work on Sunday because of your need to hold a job, create within your week a holy time during which you can rest and observe a time of prayer.
+ Blessings!