Reflections for the Working Soul: RWS 276 March 9, 2008, 5th Sunday in Lent

Sunday, April 27, 2008

RWS 276 March 9, 2008, 5th Sunday in Lent

Gospel: John 11: 1-45

25 Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me,

even if he dies, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me

will never die. Do you believe this?"

Suffer with Jesus

By Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD

In ministering to some faithful who grieve at the loss of a loved one, I find it very difficult to find the consoling words and assurances to ease their grief. It would seem that human words could only slightly and momentarily give respite to the sorrow-laden hearts of the bereaved; even material tokens of condolences could not sufficiently assure them of “life after death”. Everything that the departed has gained by working all his life could not prevent him from death or keep him alive for ever. The money and all other material wealth and possessions he might have amassed could not bargain for him a true and happy life after death. At death, the poor worker or the millionaire businessman could only rely on Someone greater than them for true life.

Jesus, who claims that He is the resurrection and the life, is the only joy and consolation of both the departed and the bereaved. Faith and acceptance of Him and His words are the “only means to earn a living”—one which is far superior to that which we find in this worldly existence—for everyone. Such means, could be earned also through one’s work and working.

It is “living and believing in Jesus” that any worker could transform his work, whether it is merely a simple job or a multi-million dollar worth of work or business, into a means to live for ever. The pains and sufferings that any work brings to the worker, when borne with love for Jesus and faith in His redemptive suffering and death on the Cross would assure the worker of happiness for ever. Working with Jesus is the best way to prepare for the certain coming of death. Then, there would no longer be inconsolable grief and sadness over the loss of a beloved here on earth.

God and paper clips

By Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

When readers email to us how this column touches them, all I can utter is “Thank You, Lord!” because many times, human as I am, I wonder how relevant can my words be in the workplace where people’s concern is primarily to survive. Like now, for example, I try to reflect upon the verse Bishop Cantillas has chosen, and grope for ways I can coherently connect a mystery and the material world without sounding like a sidewalk theologian. Pray tell, what sense can talk about the resurrection and never-ending life make to you who are half-buried in workaday concerns to feed your family? Whether you are an assembly line worker, a stock broker or anything else in between, for most of the day you would be virtually drowning in sounds or noise and activity—abstract ideas would be furthest from your mind when you are under pressure to earn your keep.

The connection lies in what you will answer to Jesus’ question: “Do you believe this?” Belief is at the root of everything you do—and that includes what you do in the workplace, of course. What you believe in dictates your moves and decisions. If you believe it’s wrong to steal from your company, then you will not filch even paper clips. If you believe it’s okay to cheat on your spouse you will not stop flirting with your officemate until it leads to an affair. If you believe there is life after death you will take care that everything you do be above reproach because even long after you’re dead your beliefs will live on in your children, grandchildren and generations after them.

Simply put, you can only believe in God, or in everything else that is not God. If you do not want to be among the “living dead”, you’d know what to believe.

No comments:

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