Jesus, the healer

+  RWS 532 February 3, 2013

4^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Luke 4: 21-30

23 He said to them, "Surely you will quote me this proverb, 'Physician, cure yourself,' and say, 'Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.'"

Dependent on others

By Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD

The proverb referred to by Jesus reminds me of a fact of life that we depend on others even on the things personal, those we think we can do by ourselves. Perhaps, there are those who would attempt at doing by themselves what they need, like cooking their own food, washing their clothes, and etc. But, professionals would prefer to hire the services of others to do the job needed by them, say, a sick doctor needs other physicians to treat him, teachers would have to be taught by others to get their diploma, and many others similar cases. This fact that we need others to complete or fulfill ourselves is something we need to accept; workers also would do well to adopt this attitude of dependency on others.

The worker certainly needs to perfect his skills on the particular task he is assigned at work. But, he should not think that he does not need others to do even better than what he is doing. There is always room for improvement in any situation. Such improved performance can happen only when the worker is open to the suggestions of others, or also allows himself to learn from how others do their jobs. The “self-made” professionals, those who have acquired  expertise through personal and self efforts, reach such high standards of work because they accept their need to learn from others. Their drive to acquire more knowledge and skills to improve at their job has been complemented by their humility and openness to accept what has already been discovered useful and beneficial by contemporaries or those of the past. Such attitudes of striving for perfection and acceptance of others’ good influence make for the perfect combination for success in work. Somehow, the worker should aim not at being independent, but dependent.

The dependent worker would also easily recognize his need of divine help even in doing his jobs. After all, his life, strength and everything else comes from the Lord Almighty. There is therefore wisdom in getting help from others, especially from the Lord, while at work.

Do-it-yourself

By Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

There is something very empowering about being independent of others in the workplace.  For one, one’s job gets done well and fast; for another, energy that is otherwise spent on putting up with other people’s inadequacies is conserved and funneled into improving one’s performance.  Some people could be so exacting about tasks, for example, that they waste so much time correcting minuscule details.  (If you’ve ever dined out with people who demand that their soup be served at exactly 158 degrees Farenheit or else, you’d know what I mean.)  But there’s something more here than meets the eye.

A saying goes, “If you want the job done right, do it yourself.”  It’s not just an insult; it is also good counsel.  The ability to “do it yourself” means learning from scratch, thus earning the power to teach others.  Look at the wealthy tycoons who train their heirs, employing them first as janitors and letting them work their way to the top; that is the way they mold worthy successors.  You cannot justly demand perfect performance from others when you do not know how to do the job yourself.  Cultivating the willingness to carry out even lowly errands requires humility on a worker’s part, but it definitely pays off in the end.  Imagine how smoothly the workplace will run if enough people there can be counted on to “do it yourself”—operations go on even when a vital co-worker suddenly falls ill or something.

Truly independent people are not so on their own; in fact, they may be a hundred percent dependent on another.  They are strong and self-sufficient only because they have tapped the energy source that grants them the humility which opens them to true power.  That source is called different names by people of varying beliefs, but followers of Jesus call it God.  When they “do it yourself”, they in reality “do it with God.”