Reflections for the Working Soul: November 2007

Friday, November 30, 2007

RWS # 262 for Dec. 2, 2007, 1st Sunday of Advent

Gospel: Mt. 24: 37-44 (Focus on V 44)
So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,
the Son of Man will come.

Passport to eternity
By Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD

An employee opted for early retirement in order to get his lump sum retirement pay. A sickness which unexpectedly came up forced him to stop working to get the needed surgical and medical treatment. One might say that luckily, the guy has a job which could help him pay for the cost of hospitalization. Another might say however, that it is ironic that the worker spent his strength and energies working to earn money and enjoy life, only to find out in the end that he has to spend what he earned through work to regain his health in the hospital bed.

Unexpected things do come our way in life. Work—the positive outlook of it, the useful learning it could contribute in the worker, the financial and material earnings it could provide—could sometimes be a useful and dependable means of preparing ourselves for such surprises in life. On the other hand, the negative perspective on work—an abusive attitude towards it, and an excessive dependence on it and its “fruits” which could make the worker forget or ignore the Source, Giver and Lord of work—could bring the worker into events which he would wished he were prepared to face or handle.

By looking at work with the eyes of faith and working with the awareness of the presence of Jesus, one could be better prepared to encounter any surprising events in life, including that of the unexpected moment of meeting one’s Creator face to face. Work well done—not merely for the individual’s satisfaction but also for the good and welfare of others and for the glory of the Almighty—could be the believer’s passport to God’s kingdom and his assurance of everlasting life and happiness.

This issue of preparing
By Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

Two of the things that prod me on to work hard in media are: one the promotion of truth and two, the situation of our marginalized kababayans. Not so much those who work in air-conditioned offices, who never get their hands soiled in labor, who are well-fed or who collect more than adequate paychecks come payday, as those with little or no schooling and who can hardly make both ends meet. They toil day and night at jobs no one would envy them for, not minding their sweat and the grime in their hands, hardly knowing or caring how they contribute to the country’s economy or progress. Scavengers are one of them; part-time workers and part-time bums; so are self-taught fix-it-all handymen who leave your home appliances or systems in a worse state than when they find it—you know the kind I’m referring to.

We have so many of them in our country—a daunting number in proportion to the compassionate few who devote their lives to improving the lot of these Filipinos. Sometimes, when I reflect on gospel stories like this one for today, I surmise that the most I can do for them is to tell the truth about their situation as I see it. And never mind “results”—the poor have been there since time immemoriam and will be there—it seems—forever and ever ad infinitum. Still with hope I go on, commiserating with the marginalized as much as is demanded by my profession in the pursuit of truth.

The truth is, we have millions of laboring kababayans who have never heard of the word of God, let alone ponder it. It would be cruel to tell them to prepare for the unexpected hour the Son of Man will come, for sudden disaster or death, when their ignorance is already a disaster and their poverty, a living death.

RWS 261 for Nov. 25, 2007, Solemnity of Christ the King

Gospel: Luke 23: 35-43 (Focus on V 42-43)
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Re-living Calvary
By Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD

Many would wonder why a criminal who was crucified with Jesus and who beg Him to be remembered when He comes into His kingdom was brought by Him to Paradise. One might say that a hard-working and law-abiding man would deserve celestial happiness rather than one who is considered as a social liability. Yet, Jesus seemed to be unmindful of the kind of work the man did or whether he did his job well or not when He promised him the reward of heaven. What the Lord seemed to have considered greatly important is that the repentant soul expressed a strong faith in the kingship of Jesus even when he saw Him as helpless as he was on the cross, and his simple and sincere desire to be with Him wherever this King would be.

For the working soul, this touching and moving gospel event could show that desiring to be with Jesus and asking Him to take us with Him would be more valuable and important than our work; therefore, it is vital for the worker to be always exert conscious effort to be and to unite with Jesus everywhere including the workplace—and even if He shows Himself as a suffering Lord—so that every act he does in his job would be not only be earthly satisfying but also heavenly compensating.

Everyone in the workplace, in whatever rank or position he occupies, could consider his job as a task given him by Christ the King. And when he faithfully accomplishes his work in faith and obedience to the King and offer all his energies at work as a humble prayer to be with Jesus for ever, the beautiful event in Calvary would be repeated once again, in time, at the ordinary workplace.

You’re ‘only’ human?
By Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

Even if you are not a Bible scholar, or have never attended a Bible Study class, having been raised a Christian you may be familiar with the image of the “good thief” at the crucifixion of Jesus. Transfer that scene to your workplace and put yourself in the shoes—or on the cross—of the “good thief,” then look around and see who among your officemates would be Jesus to you. I don’t mean find the officemate that you would want crucified, but the one who would not only unconditionally forgive you if you asked for pardon but would also welcome you to a place of glory he is headed for.

How many Jesuses can you find? Your boss? (No, he’s more of a Pilate!) Your assistant? (No, he’s more like Judas!) The company president? (No, he’s hardly in the office, so invisible, so he’d be more like the father of Jesus!) So, who? Maybe the vice president? (Oh, his sexual orientation would make him more of a Magdalene!) Well, at least now you know it’s very hard to find a Jesus in your place of work. Why? Because most people think it’s only human to be hurt and angry, and that it’s only human for humans to be human, so why not leave unconditional forgiving and forgetting to the gods? Maybe you’ll find someone who can forgive you on certain conditions (like rival politicians) but forgiving your offenses and then finding the good in you, too, is just too much for a human being, right? Wrong.

You need not be the Son of God to do as He did; just bring the idea down to the concrete, graspable level and see for yourself. You can forgive without conditions when you realize that the offender also has a good side to him, just like any other human being. And when you support him after forgiving him, you are showing how noble your soul is. And that is also being human.

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What they say about 'Reflections for the Working Soul', the book

Day in and out, the Inquirer brims with news. That's the Inquirer's strength: A frenzy of in-your-face news daily. Almost always the bad news. Then Reflections for the Working Soul happened every Sunday. Suddenly, we had (and have) an oasis of Good News. For reflection. For serenity. Not up there in the clouds. But right here in the dailiness of living and working with real people some of whom can really get on one’s nerves.

Thanks to Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas and Teresa R. Tunay. In three paragraphs or less, they offer a way and an attitude in the workplace not just for Sundays but for my day-to-day lifestyle to keep in touch with what works in relationships, including people one can barely stand working with. They sort out for me what’s important and really counts in life and living in the workplace as a microcosm of the real world.

So, I look forward eagerly to reading the Good News bylined by the bishop and Tunay. Because they speak to me personally about how to be most effective and productive at work while at the same time staying connected to the Good News, and thus staying in a state of serenity and grace. Providentially, their names—Precioso and Tunay (precious and true)—sum up their contributions to the development of the Inquirer as an instrument and institution of the Good News of the Lord.

—Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc
Editor-in-Chief, Philippine Daily Inquirer

From Bishop Rolly Tria Tirona:

Giving flesh and bones to our Christian faith has always been the challenge for every Christian. Translating belief in Christ into Christ-like action is extremely demanded in market and work places. Christian work ethics is the fruit of inspiration and not of pure legislation.

Reflections for the Working Soul, a weekly column of Ms Teresa Tunay and Bishop Precioso Cantillas in a newspaper section catering primarily to people at work, provides that inspiration for the many working people desirous to integrate their belief with their work.

These joint reflections make the Gospel teachings so reachable to busy people. Their insights help working people understand that they do matter in the transformation of our society and of our country. In their reflections, they show that work can lead to contemplation, while contemplation sanctifies and elevates their work to the heart of God.

I salute and congratulate Ms. Teresa Tunay and Bishop Precioso Cantillas for being the instruments of the Holy Spirit to warm and lift up the spirit of our working people.

Most Rev. Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD
Bishop Prelate of Infanta
15 April 2007, Divine Mercy Sunday

Carmelite priest Junjun Agruda says:

In the mountains, geologists and miners use the elegant term "angle of repose" to describe the precise angle at which a boulder will rest on the side of a hill, rather than tumble downward. I think of that image as the point at which prayer and action meet. Every so often one of those boulders breaks loose, releasing potential energy in a crashing rockslide that permanently alters the landscape.

The creative ways in which Prayer and earthiness are wedded in these Relfections for the Working Soul forge a spirituality that makes room for piety as well as for activism. Bishop Precioso Cantillas and Ms. Teresa Tunay have grasped the nature of Prayer as partnership with God’s activity on earth. These reflections bring us to that "angle of repose", the place where contemplation and prayerful action meet. Thus in the process, the act of Prayer emboldens us to join the work of transforming the world into a place where the Father’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

—Fr. Mariano Agruda III, OCD
Provincial Superior,
Order of Discalced Carmelites, Philippines

Bishop Stude comments:

Two beautiful minds, talented persons very much respected, committed and sefless in their respective works, have gifted us with an inspiring and interesting book, Reflections for the Working Soul. The skillful authors—Bishop Precioso Cantillas and Ms. Teresa Tunay—make the Sunday Gospels more applicable, much alive in the work world. The inspiring book enhances spirituality in the workplace and imparts refreshing reflections which encourage and challenge one to make the workplace a ‘good soil’ (Mark 4,8) and to ‘bear fruit: some thirty, some sixty,and some one hundred’ (Mark 4,20).

Reading Reflections for the Working Soul is to know that the words of its gifted authors are their works, and their works are their witnessing for Jesus and His Gospels. With our works and in our places, Bishop Precioso Cantillas and Ms. Teresa Tunay take and turn us to ‘see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven’ (Matthew 5,16).

—Monsignor Ruperto Cruz Santos
Bishop of Balanga

From Monsignor Hernando Coronel:

The teamwork between Bishop Cantillas and Teresa Tunay is the application of the Second Vatican Council teaching regarding the transformation of society. A cleric and a layperson combined their personal insights to give light on the values needed in the workplace. Indeed, they have witnessed against a rat race world, a dog-eat-dog milieau, a corporate atmosphere of power and control. Their spirituality of the workplace heralds the values of the Gospel in the business setting, that it is important to pray before deciding, to seek God’s will before acting in the commercial sphere. Theirs is an advocating of building a faith community in the workplace where Christian principles reign and are lived out.

—Monsignor Hernando Coronel
Archdiocese of Manila

Fr. Mario Baclig, SDB, says:

If once we had worker-priests, now we have a genuine worker-bishop. And this book is proof of this. Bishop Cantillas is himself a worker; he grew up in Don Bosco Cebu getting his hands soiled and greasy in the machine shop. When he was nominated bishop, he had all set and ready a pastor’s staff that he had been fabricating for someone else. And now, a published compilation of his thoughts for workers. This is a precious gift for today’s workers, from a worker-bishop!

Teresa Tunay is his partner in this endeavor. She comes with her unique journalistic talent and creativity. But more than that, she brings in a rare sensitivity to the simple and often unnoticed lives of ordinary workers. Her love and concern for young workers has kept the Blue Collar magazine going despite all odds. I cannot wait to get hold of this book. How I wish that workers worldwide would have a similar privilege!

—Fr. Mario Baclig, SDB
Salesiana Publishers

From the late Fr. James Reuter, SJ:

The secret of doing anything well is to love what you are doing —to enjoy your job. If, when you wake each morning, you are eager to meet the challenge of this day; if your mind is filled with it, joyfully, when you are brushing your teeth, when you are in the shower, when you are drinking your coffee. . . . . .your work will be a smash! What these 'Reflections' do is to remind you that your work is an apostolate. . . you are serving the children of God. You might not have silver and gold, but what you have you give—yourself! And that is the most beautiful gift of all. This little book makes you realize that you are serving God. . . every day, every hour, every moment. . . . in the market place. It is worth reading—one set of reflections every day. It will fill your life with love. You will go to work smiling.

—Fr. James Reuter, SJ
Director, National Office on Mass Media for the Catholic Church in the Philippines