FAITH@WORK > LEADER GUIDE

Fixing the System
Week 4
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time - A

Overview

  • If everyone's work is important to God, then it is a problem when the broader work system is broken in a way that keeps people from working in a productive, dignified way. Our responsibility as Christians is not limited to the confines of our job, but we need to look at the larger system of where we work (and sometimes other systems).
  • Catholic social teaching informs how we need to improve systems for the good of workers and the broader society.
Book Connections

The focus for this week connects with the following chapters in the small group process and book by Gregory F. Augustine Pierce, both available for purchase from us at The Pastoral Center.
View the week 4 public page for more ideas.

Lectionary Readings

Reading texts: U.S. Bishops website
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time - A

First Reading

Second Reading

Gospel

Faith@Work Connections

The first reading from Isaiah is particularly interesting and topical, as it recalls how God guides the pagan Cyrus the Great (founder of the Persian Empire) and his "system" to do his will. How can we put our wider systems of work to work for the common good and ultimately the Kingdom of God?  

This is a great opportunity to highlight an Old Testament reading in your preaching or teaching.  You do not have to always focus on the Gospel, and it is usually most effective to focus on a single passage.  However, the Gospel can also be connected to this topic. One way to read the Gospel this week is as an affirmation of our social responsibility. We may see our job as a Caesar ruling our decisions at times, but what responsibility do we have to God to improve that work system?

See the overview above for ways to develop this topic.

Public Link

Direct parishioners to: http://gospel.link/faithatwork4

Handouts / Inserts
The PDF file is the best quality and smaller file size.  Use it for printing or emailing:
faith_at_work_-_week_4.pdf
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The JPG file can be used to paste it directly in another file, such as for your parish bulletin:
faith_at_work_-_week_4.jpg
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