Urbanisation and dependence

“²⁷ So every carpenter and workmaster, that laboureth night and day: and they that cut and grave seals, and are diligent to make great variety, and give themselves to counterfeit imagery, and watch to finish a work: ²⁸ The smith also sitting by the anvil, and considering the iron work, the vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace: the noise of the hammer and the anvil is ever in his ears, and his eyes look still upon the pattern of the thing that he maketh; he setteth his mind to finish his work, and watcheth to polish it perfectly: ²⁹ So doth the potter sitting at his work, and turning the wheel about with his feet, who is always carefully set at his work, and maketh all his work by number; ³⁰ He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength before his feet; he applieth himself to lead it over; and he is diligent to make clean the furnace:

³¹ All these trust to their hands: and everyone is wise in his work.

³² Without these cannot a city be inhabited: and they shall not dwell where they will, nor go up and down”

(Sirach 38:27-32)

Cities are inhabited by tradesmen - urban centres are full of business.

Psalm 107 speaks about the need of a city to settle in – that without God the Israelites had no city of their own. I live in a city – in fact, more than half the world’s population now live in urban centres – as opposed to rural. It is expected that 70 per cent of the world population will be urban by 2050. This is staggering! Take a look around your nearest city and consider the way it has grown – from what humble beginnings did it start? Where is there growth? New estates of houses? New shopping complexes? New business?

The idea of building is used in one of Jesus’ most famous parables – the Wise and Foolish Builders. In this parable, Jesus suggests that wisdom comes from coming to Him, hearing his word, and putting them into practice (Luke 6:47). Good foundations come from this wisdom. If you’re going to build, Jesus says, do it properly. Of course, this is an obvious point; as ever designed to make His listeners laugh.

‘Why on earth would you not lay good foundations??!? ’

‘Exactly!’ replies Jesus.

This idea of diligence is quite common in the Bible. The second Rogation Day is focused (traditionally) on commerce and industry. Effective tradesman/businessmen are those who are diligent and hardworking. I watch The Apprentice and love the simplicity of success – put your back into it…well it works most of the time!

The passage from Sirach (also called Ecclesiasticus) refers to three specific trades: carpenter, metal smith, and potter. It suggests that it is God who is at work in their labours. Labours that form the foundation of a working society, a successful city. Do you work in a trade? I have great admiration for plasterers (I once tried it...messy wall isn't even close), electricians, and plumbers. There is a strange beauty in the way complex issues are resolved in smooth walls, light-fittings that issue no shock, and a shower that is both warm and wet... Tradespeople may not find God in their work, it may feel quite 'secular', but I believe God is present in their endeavours.

Isn’t it fascinating that God is described as all three tradesmen in the passage from Sirach …he is the Potter in Jeremiah 18, God is described as plucking Israel from the iron-smelting furnace (again Jeremiah 11:4), and of course Jesus himself is a carpenter. God endorses and operates as a tradesman.

The purpose of Rogation Days (from the Latin, Rogare, meaning ‘to ask’) is to prompt specific prayers of petition to God – asking him to bless the seasons and crops, commerce and industry, and the environment in general. Historically these were far more popular in an agricultural society that depended so much more on good weather. We really don’t have an appreciation of plague, famine and drought…our forebears did. Society then was deeply local and often rural.

We live in a deeply urban world, where jobs are in service industry, online, retail and hospitality. And in this world we are often made to live for ourselves – to become more and more independent.

That said, we currently live in some of the most turbulent economic conditions known. We are realising, perhaps too late, that we are dependent in deeper, more profound ways with our European neighbours as well as our next-door neighbours. As Greece looks into the abyss, there is a real chance that botched economics, flawed commerce will create even tougher living conditions globally…

This RogationDay we should stop and join in the words of the collect:

Almighty God and Father,

You have so ordered our life

That we are dependent on one another:
Prosper those engaged in commerce and industry
And direct their minds and hands
That they may rightly use your gifts in the service of others.

Rogation Days remind us that we depend on one another, on the land, on the weather, on animals, on the world we live in.

And of course, ultimately, we depend on God – the one who fashions and shapes us, who brings us through the tests and trials of life, who as carpenter took up a wooden cross to give us life.

We pray to show our need.

Do it!