Reflections for the Working Soul: RWS 270 January 27, 2008, 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

RWS 270 January 27, 2008, 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Mt. 4: 12-17
17 From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Heavenly conquest
By Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD

When Jesus teaches about heaven He clearly explains that one must “work hard” to earn it; that, even if the Father is so eager and willing to share it with us, His creatures, we could only enjoy it if and when we do our part which firstly requires us to repent—turn away from our selfishness and pride and build up a loving relationship with our God.

The effort therefore that we need to do in gaining heavenly life is like the work that we do daily in life. Our struggling to attain perfection in heaven is like our working to earn our living here on earth—we gain a heavenly reward after “winning the fight” against all kinds of imperfections and evils, as we get job promotions and salary increase after upgrading our skills and abilities in our professions. Indeed, our work life and its many difficult and painful experiences are essential parts in the story of our heavenly conquest; they could also be the very means for a believer to build a loving relationship with the Heavenly Father.

When we spend our energies on our work, we in fact turn away from our self and focus our attention on the job. Forming the habit of thinking more of others, in this case, of another thing—the work at hand—than of our own selves, to my mind, is an important aspect of repentance Jesus is asking all of us to do. The more a person “forgets” himself and his self interest and the more he thinks of others, the easier for him to give himself to others—to seek the good of others and eventually to encounter the Supreme Good. When the person encounters God in faith, he would surrender his whole being and offer everything he does and he has as a loving and living worship of the Divinity, who is “at hand”—in the workplace and every place of our life.

When the workplace is hell
By Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

Do you ever wonder why certain workplaces seem to be a veritable hell? I don’t mean it’s so uncomfortable no one can stand it—shades of eternal fire and souls wailing in torment—but a place where lies, deception and a me-first mentality reign supreme. This hell of a workplace (pardon the pun) could even be the most poshly appointed structure on earth, filled with sleek, smart people you’d envy for their affluent lifestyles, and yet working there is so stressful it could make you literally sick. And then it could also be a miserable sweatshop where workers are reduced to virtual slavery due to the fatal combination of employees’ ignorance and employers’ greed.

Following a system in the workplace does not always guarantee order and justice because sometimes oppression is built into the system. Even the best management or skills upgrading programs frequently offer only superficial and temporary solutions to workplace difficulties—thus, job satisfaction is fragile and peace is artificial.

Going deeper into the root of things we may discover that good old fashioned repentance is the simplest, most effective route to a better workplace. Things stay in a rut at work because people are unwilling to admit they have been wrong—they would rather seek “solutions” that in fact perpetuate anomalous situations while appearing to remedy them. To repent is to own your mistake, acknowledge your limitations, be open to correction, and therefore to growth. When you are humble enough to admit you have made a wrong decision and caused trouble in the office, you become an agent of progress. Let’s not be daunted by the idea of repenting; as today’s gospel reminds, repentance is the gateway to heaven.

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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