Dignity and the Work of God

In his Rule, St. Benedict refers to prayer as “the work of God.” This term is unfamiliar to me, but it makes sense in many ways. Because both work and prayer are repetitive, they are sometimes soothing and sometimes tedious. At times work and prayer engage and stimulate the mind, and at other times the repetitiveness frees the mind to rest and be open to new insights. Perhaps most importantly, both work and prayer help us claim our dignity.

Pope Francis said, “Work is fundamental to the dignity of the person. Work, to use an image, ‘anoints’ with dignity, fills us with dignity, makes us similar to God who has worked and still works, who always acts.” That work makes us similar to God is an awesome thought. Perhaps even more awesome is that in praying we claim a relationship with God. The psalmist asks, “What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him?” And yet, when we pray, God listens and enters into dialogue with us. What can confer more dignity than having the Almighty acknowledge our worth by being present to us?

Being anointed with dignity through work and prayer helps us be open to the promptings of the Spirit and act with courage to be agents of God’s justice and mercy. In the book of Daniel, we hear that Susanna, who was convicted of a crime she did not commit, cried aloud to God, with whom she clearly had a relationship. In response, “God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel,” who responded by speaking out on behalf of Susanna and proving her innocence. Prayer requires tenacity and devotion, but through the dignity it provides, we are given the power to participate in the marvelous works of God.