If you've been paying attention to the pop charts in the world of music during the last few weeks, you've may have heard about the top song entitled "Rich Men North of Richmond" written and performed by Oliver Anthony. Yes. I'm going to talk about it. No. I don't actually like the song. Yes. I don't like it because it makes me uncomfortable. 

Sure, I'm uncomfortable with it because of some ordinary profanity in the lyrics and that would ordinarily disqualify me from discussing the song Catholic circles, but when I saw Word on Fire media (by Bishop Barron) talking about it, I realized "Wow... everyone it talking about it. I should too." I was even surprised that some news media outlets began running stories on the song until the the singer songwriter admitted that he was criticizing the very folks who are often praised by the same media outlets. Oops!

I don't like it for the dog whistles it casts on geographic divides. Placing the blame on the people who live in the North stirs up unhealed histories of the Civil War in the United States. I don't like the misinformed overtones it spreads about people on welfare and the nature of fair taxation across economic classes. 

But I should probably get over myself and just listen.

Its a song about a person. And while the song is not particularly about Oliver Anthony (who is doing very well financially after the recording was released), it is a song about a real person, many persons in fact, who live in our country and are struggling. The song makes me uncomfortable because I am comfortable and I need to be made especially uncomfortable as we approach Labor Day. 

It is so tempting to enter into this three day weekend and think, "Thank God!" I get one last BBQ! Yay! I can finish that project! Great! I can have an extra drink and sleep it off! 

Labor Day is a secular holiday of the United States but it is a holiday intoned in perfect harmony with the insights from our faith know as Catholic Social Teaching. The dictates of these teachings are not something we can sleep off. If it takes songs like "Rich Men North of Richmond" or three day weekends dedicated to the Labor movement to shake us from the status quo, then so be it. 

In the matter of workers and labor, the first thing that the Church teaches us is that work is dignified. Workers co-create with God who is the original worker and work done by humans furthers God's creation. Work should always be done in freedom (not slavery) and in balance with the needs of family and leisure. Work should provide a living wage to participate fully in society without undue burdens. Work belongs to the enterprise of the human person not the other way around where work can dominate and define the human person. We are all responsible for ensuring that workers are treated with respect and flourish through their efforts. 

And that's why "Rich Men North of Richmond" makes me uncomfortable. It is a reminder that their remains a disparity in our country that rings dissonant to the plan God has for God's people. I come to Church. I feel comforted by the grace and direction of God, especially through His Word and the Sacraments. But God's Word also challenges me. I'm muted by the times I have bothered not to care, bothered not to love and God asks me to change. 

I buy the clothes made more cheaply from factories that don't restrict children from working or require obscene hours of work from adults. What must their family lives be like if they are tied to the textile factory rather than the enjoyment of being with their children at a soccer game or family reunion? I'm grateful for the package that arrives at my house the day after I order it, but haven't bothered to vote in favor of the workers who want more regulation over their industry. I know their demands would increase the prices I pay or the time it takes to get may new ear pods. I contract work to be done on my home and am gladden by the cheaper option even though I notice that the workers who do the work don't seem to speak English and may not be here legally. This is great for my pocketbook but at some point, my conscience helps me realize that I haven't bothered to make sure the "cheaper" workers are protected when I hear of problems with our immigration system. In the end, I hurt both my fellow citizen who isn't getting work and can no longer afford to care for his family because he is forced to work for lower rates and the non-citizen who isn't afforded due process and human rights, but hey... the tuckpointing looks great. 

And then I hear "Rich Men North of Richmond" and I'm stuck. I know that God is calling me, calling us, to play a part in bringing greater justice to our world if we would only bother to listen and care. That's something for us to pray about and reflect upon this Labor Day. How are our Catholic values being lived out in the real world, a world where we are the constant beneficiaries of each other's work? If we forget to ponder this important matter over the Labor Day weekend, may be fortunate enough to turn on the radio and maybe, "Rich Men North of Richmond" will play and remind us. As we learn to grow in our response to God's call, may God bless all who labor. 

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