Working for the Lord / Trabajando para el Señor

Some days I go to work and I’m so busy, the day flies by. Sometimes, it’s a joy to do my duties, and I find it hard to quit at the end of the day. Some days, I don’t want to work at all, and the day drags by endlessly.

One of my biggest problems, if I step back and analyze myself a little, is all too often I go to work not understanding it at all. Basically, I do my work, I get my pay. Then I take that pay, and I live my life. Thus, I apparently believe I am working for myself, or, to cut myself a little slack, working for my family. Put me in today’s Gospel, and I am just one of the first group of laborers hired that day to go into the vineyard. I do the work and expect the pay, and woe to those who don’t do as much as me and who get just as much as I do. 

The correct understanding of work in this parable really belongs to the landowner alone. The laborers are working for him, not for themselves. He, of course, represents God the Father. The vineyard work is loving and serving Him, and He rewards that service according to His own plan. Thus, whether I’ve been faithful to Him my whole life, or I have a deathbed conversion, God will give me the same heavenly reward for that faithful service, however short or long it may be.

Now, back to my daily work. My lack of understanding from day to day is my own fault. I may consider myself just a regular guy, but shouldn’t my work out in the world, no matter what that work is, be done in service to God my heavenly Father? I am not a priest or a deacon, nor am I a monk or a nun, but that does not mean I am not working for the Lord. And it is the same with all of us. In all we do, no matter what it is, we should be first and foremost doing it for the Lord. 

Easy day? Offer thanksgiving to God. Difficult day? Offer it up (as my mother used to tell us as kids). Serve the Lord prayerfully in your service to others, whatever that may be, and God will provide us — in His love, mercy and justice — with the reward we deserve. What more could we ask for?

Contact the author


Hay días que voy a trabajar y estoy tan ocupado que el día vuela. A veces, es un placer cumplir con mis obligaciones, y me cuesta dejarlo al final del día. Otros días, no tengo ganas de trabajar para nada, y el día se me hace eterno.

Uno de mis peores problemas, si me detengo y me analizo un poco, es que con demasiada frecuencia voy a trabajar sin entenderlo. Básicamente, hago mi trabajo, recibo mi sueldo. Luego lo cobro y vivo mi vida. Por lo tanto, aparentemente creo que trabajo para mí mismo o, para ser un poco más comprensivo, para mi familia. Si me incluyes en el Evangelio de hoy, soy simplemente uno de los primeros trabajadores contratados ese día para ir a la viña. Hago el trabajo y espero el sueldo, ¡y ay de aquellos que no hacen tanto como yo y reciben lo mismo que yo!

La comprensión correcta del trabajo en esta parábola realmente le corresponde solamente al propietario. Los trabajadores trabajan para él, no para sí mismos. Él, por supuesto, representa a Dios Padre. El trabajo en la viña implica amarlo y servirlo, y Él recompensa ese servicio según su propio plan. Por lo tanto, ya sea que le haya sido fiel toda mi vida o que tenga una conversión en mi lecho de muerte, Dios me dará la misma recompensa celestial por ese servicio fiel, por corto o largo que sea.

Ahora, volvamos a mi trabajo diario. Mi falta de comprensión diaria es culpa mía. Puede que me considere una persona normal, pero ¿no debería mi trabajo en el mundo, sea cual sea, ser al servicio de Dios, mi Padre celestial? No soy sacerdote ni diácono, ni monje ni monja, pero eso no significa que no esté trabajando para el Señor. Y lo mismo ocurre con todos nosotros. En todo lo que hagamos, sea lo que sea, debemos hacerlo, ante todo, para el Señor.

¿Has tenido un día fácil? Agradece a Dios. ¿Has tenido un día difícil? Ofrécelo a Dios (como nos decía mi madre de niños). Sirve al Señor con oración en tu servicio a los demás, sea cual sea, y Dios nos dará —en su amor, misericordia y justicia— la recompensa que merecemos. ¿Qué más podemos pedir?

Comunicarse con el autor

Mike Karpus is a regular guy. He grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, graduated from Michigan State University and works as an editor. He is married to a Catholic school principal, raised two daughters who became Catholic school teachers at points in their careers, and now relishes his two grandchildren, including the older one who is fascinated with learning about his faith. He also has served on a Catholic school board, a pastoral council and a parish stewardship committee. He currently is a lector at Mass, a Knight of Columbus, Adult Faith Formation Committee member and a board member of the local Habitat for Humanity organization. But mostly he’s a regular guy.

Feature Image Credit: Yury Kim, pexels.com/photo/man-carrying-gray-pipe-585419/

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.