Work, Sacrifice, and Glory: Finding Holiness Through the Cross and Resurrection
Work is not just an earthly task—it is part of our redemption. St. Josemaría Escriva saw Christ’s labor in Nazareth not as an ordinary profession, but as an act of salvation, intimately united to his sacrifice on the Cross. Our work, too, when united to Christ, becomes both redemptive and sanctifying.
Nazareth and Calvary: Two Sides of the Same Mission
Jesus did not wait until Calvary to begin His work of redemption. His daily labor as a carpenter was already a perfect act of obedience to the Father, a foreshadowing of His ultimate sacrifice.
Nazareth – In His hidden years, Christ embraced ordinary toil with love and humility. Every cut of wood, every finished table, was an offering to God.
Calvary – On the Cross, He consummated His obedience, showing that sacrifice and work are one when done for the Father’s will.
When we work with faith and love, our daily efforts—however small—become part of this same mission.
Dying to Self in Daily Work
"If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)
To follow Christ in work means more than just effort—it requires self-denial:
✔ Obedience in duty – Working not just for personal ambition, but for God’s glory.
✔ Perseverance in struggle – Seeing setbacks as an opportunity for sanctification, not discouragement.
✔ Sacrificing self-will – Offering our preferences to embrace God’s will, even when inconvenient.
Just as Jesus fully submitted His human will in the Garden of Gethsemane ("Not my will, but yours be done," Luke 22:42), we too are called to die to self in our daily tasks.
Work as an Offering in the Mass
Our work finds its fullest meaning in the Eucharist. Every task, struggle, and effort can be placed on the altar, joining Christ’s offering.
The sacrifice of the Mass unites our work with His, giving it eternal value.
As St. Josemaría taught: "All the works of men are done as if on an altar, and each one of you, in that union of contemplative souls which is your day, in some way says 'his Mass,' which lasts twenty-four hours, in expectation of the Mass to follow."
The Glory Beyond the Sacrifice
Work, when done in union with Christ, does not end in suffering alone—it leads to renewal. Christ’s obedience on the Cross led to His glorification, and our faithfulness in work will lead to our transformation.
The struggles of daily labor shape us into stronger disciples.
The joy of perseverance reminds us that our work has eternal value.
The hope of resurrection assures us that our sacrifices are not in vain.
Every desk, every construction site, every classroom can be a place of sanctification. Christ worked, suffered, and triumphed—so too can we.
