Sermon for Evening Prayer
August 28, 2019
This morning as I was driving to church, I accidentally had the radio on. I normally do not listen to the new early in the morning because I don’t like to begin my day with “dispatches from the dysfunctional world.” It’s depressing. I’d like to get some productive work done before I have to listen to the griping and complaining. Today, however, I listened a little to two men arguing over gun control and the legalization of drugs. Everyone thinks they can change the world by changing a few external laws. But it is not the laws that usually need changing as much as it is the hearts of all human beings. What I was about to do in the next few minutes (teach 8thgraders about God and His word) would do more to bring good in the world than most people realize. The same could be said for mowing the lawn, doing the laundry, working ten math problems, memorizing twenty spelling words, going to visit a sick person, stocking store shelves, bandaging a wound, or reading the Bible and praying.
There is an old Latin saying, ora et labora, that means “pray and work.” It is often attributed to the Rule of St. Benedict, but the phrase is not actually used there. The idea of a life of prayer and work, however, is very much part of the Rule. Others have also used this phrase even though they don’t have a religious focus. It is the motto of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, the Scottish clan Ramsay, and of the city of Toledo, Ohio. You’ll also find the motto on a plaque in honor of Ole Kirk Christiansen, the creator of Legos.
Ora et Labora is a great motto for anyone. In the book of Hebrews, chapter thirteen, we find the same basic idea: “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (13.15-16).
If we want to change the world, I would suggest we all start by devoting ourselves to prayer and work. But the key is that we do it “by Him.” All of us are a mixed bag of good and evil. But in Jesus we find the true fix for evil in the forgiveness of sins. With that renewal of our lives by faith, every day is a new opportunity to pray and work. This is the pattern we also see in Jesus, who rose early in the morning to pray (Mark 1.35), and who said, “We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9.4). Amen.
