Reflections for the Working Soul: Woman caught in adultery

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Woman caught in adultery

+ RWS 538 March 17, 20 13

5th Sunday in Lent

Gospel: John 8: 1-11

Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, and do not sin any more"

Troubleshooting

By Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD

Jesus was confronted with a very difficult moral situation of the woman caught in adultery and the Mosaic law which could lead her to death. I should say that the Lord did a really good troubleshooting job that he not only saved the life of the sinful woman but also made the moral leaders of His time learn how they could do their jobs in serving the people under their care.

Indeed, in almost every area in life and particularly in work troubles occur, and troubleshooting would be one of the essential skills needed. A good troubleshooter is one who is able to analyze the problem and provide the solution which would eliminate the defect. Every worker should somehow know his job so well as to be able to make the necessary corrections to the regular breakdown in his job. His knowledge and skills should equip him sufficiently to face any trouble that might arise at work. Moreover, those who are tasked with special assignment as troubleshooters should be circumspect enough as to provide a holistic and integral solution which is good and beneficial to everyone and to all concerned and which would also not create other problems. Troubles in the workplace should be approached by everyone not only with a pragmatic attitude that looks for a practical and profitable solution for everyone but also with a Christ-like attitude which places a high premium on saving the real worth and value of the human worker. The troubleshooting skills learned and acquired by everyone at work should be useful for the human and moral growth of the worker.

Every troublesome experience at work could be an opportunity for everyone to imitate the example of Christ who sees trouble and above all troublemakers with great love, mercy and compassion.

Drop the stones

By Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

The value of self-knowledge in the workplace should never be underestimated, for it can save us from a lot of (what the British would call) “argle-bargle”. You probably have at least co-worker or two who are very nice, very generous, normally good-humored, but flare up when they feel offended. Then they can’t stop ranting about how boorish some people could be after what they’ve been or done for them. Not satisfied with that, they’d go on argle-bargling about the offender’s unworthiness as a human being, feeling victimized and certainly bent on vengeance.

Recently someone in that situation aired his complaints to me. (I seem to be a magnet for people with complaints, even when I tell them I can’t help). My cell phone sizzled with his venomous texts against the co-worker he said shouted at him in front of mutual friends. Knowing his “offender”, I said that’s just the way he is, but after so many of his texts, I told him to calm down and reminded him of the prayer “Lord, grant me the courage to change the things I can, the serenity to accept those I can’t, and the wisdom to know the difference.” But he was deaf to it. Clearly, he lacks true self-knowledge, for he does not realize that he himself tends to offend people the way his offender does, and since he refuses to see that, he’s dooming himself to get stuck in that situation.

Peace comes with forgiveness, and for as long as we do not see what it is in ourselves that need to be forgiven, we will never drop the stones in our hand—ready to hurl at those who we think offend us.

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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