You might remember a tv show 

That aired a long time ago, five, ten years ago maybe. 

It was about somebody in charge of a business, 

A CEO or a manager, 

Who – of a big company, a big business, 

Who anonymously goes and works on the line for a day, 

Just to see what it’s like to work on the line 

Or work as a cashier or work in some other area of the business, 

Maybe not in the c-suite. 

It was called ‘undercover boss.’ 

Remember? Remember that? 

It was kind of, it might have been a little bit hokey maybe, 

It might have been a little staged, 

But nonetheless, it was an example of the boss 

Finding out what it was like to be somebody 

Who’s not the boss. 

Not a bad lesson for a boss, 

Not a bad lesson for the employees 

Who are working on the line. 

I remembered that tv show 

And I appreciate that tv show 

Both because of the gospel for today 

And also because of the fact 

That tomorrow we celebrate labor day. 

So let’s take a look at the gospel. 

Jesus telling that beautiful parable about 

Not exalting yourself, but rather humbling yourself, 

Allowing yourself to be humbled in all invitations 

And all opportunities in life, 

Allowing yourself to be humbled 

As we walk through this beautiful world of ours, 

Allowing yourself to be humbled. 

Now that may mean taking the place, 

The lower place at the table, 

That may mean letting somebody go ahead of you, 

That may mean practicing that kindness 

That Jesus asks us to practice. 

But how do we walk through life with a real sense of humility? 

With our brothers and sisters, not putting ourselves first, 

But really allowing others to speak maybe more than we do. 

Maybe we allow others to have the last word. 

What does it mean to practice that humility 

With our brothers and sisters at work, 

At home with our family, our wives and husbands? 

What does humility look like for you as Jesus invites you? 

And then in terms of our celebration 

Of labor day tomorrow, what does that look like? 

I think today as we gather, we remember all those who work 

Day in and day out, long hours generously, compassionately. 

We celebrate and remember 

Those who put in a good day’s work 

For our community, for our world around us. 

I’d like to remember that as we celebrate labor day 

Tomorrow, I want to remember that God takes our generosity, 

God takes our dedication, 

God takes our showing up for work every day, 

In the good times, and the bad times. 

God takes our dedication and fidelity 

To doing the next right thing and he blesses it, 

Just like he did with the servants at the wedding of Cain. 

Remember? 

Jesus asked the servants 

To fill those water jars again and they did.i 

And you know, Jesus took that hard work that they did 

And he blessed the entire party with water made to wine. 

So as we celebrate this weekend, 

This Sunday, as well as labor day tomorrow, 

Let us continue on our path humbly, 

Humbly with our sisters and brothers 

As Jesus asks us to do. 

Let us remember that when we stay dedicated in our work, 

Whether it be at home or in our workplace 

Or with the church, as we stay dedicated, 

Jesus takes that dedication and he multiplies it 

And he blesses it for the world around us. 

Humility and staying on the path, 

Running the race, staying in the race 

With dedication so that Jesus might take it 

And multiply it in blessings for the world around us. 

Amen.