Ora et labora

“Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles…” (Lk 6:12-13)

St. Benedict described life dedicated to God as an ora et labora – pray and work (or pray and labor). Prayer and work are partners; contemplation and action are not in opposition to each other but need each other. Our Lord “spent the night in prayer to God,” and after that “he chose Twelve.”

“Blessed is the servant whom the Lord finds watching when he comes. Amen, I say to you: He will put that servant in charge of all his property.” (Communion Antiphon)