<< Work dignifies man

Netflix’s: Stories of a generation with Pope Francis (based on the book of the same title); is, despite its short run; a fantastic compilation of thoughts about different topics guided by the hand of experienced people and their life lessons. 

Chapter 3 and 4 however: Fight and Work respectively have a league of its own. There is something deeply inspiring and illustrating in the perspective of work as fulfilment of a person's value (not as the main goal). 

There’s something on the struggle for sustenance, on earning the bread with the sweat of the brow that speaks of a higher meaning that tends to be lost in today’s lifestyles. 

It speaks volumes on the current state of the world and the actual dangers of poverty, and marginalization; of greed and how its never ending thirst has corrupted our systems in a way that so many have lost this fundamental capacity to feed themselves. 

There’s something deeply paradoxical about out capitalistic system that liberates so many while simultaneously hurting so many others. Our “organized” societies have turned despite their best efforts into sacrificial altars where our lives are constantly threatened by fears that demand we turn others to be able to exist. 

We’ve lost sight of what’s right and virtuous, and within this unending hunger and unsatiated thirst, we neglect that we are not meant to be everlasting, and that there’s deep rewards in helping others. And that (in Pope Francis words): The only time we’re allowed to look down on others, is when we’re helping them stand up.

I still don’t have a satisfactory answer to this moral conundrum, there’s much to be said about our relationships to money, property, value. Many will surely balance with the environment, others with frewill and the incentive of human spirit, perhaps there lies a piece of the puzzle in religion and philosophical texts. Only time will tell.

We might even be asking the wrong questions. How many are we willing to sacrifice for materiality? Is it even worth it? is this not what Jesus spoke about when he said: he who serves to masters...? (money or our souls).

What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?- Matthew 16:26

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