Reflections for the Working Soul: Peace in the workplace

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Peace in the workplace

+ RWS 541 April 7, 2013

2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)

Gospel: John 20: 19-31

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

Peace of Christ

By Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD

The threat of war is always disturbing the world, humanity, and even the individual person himself. Such threat may also come in the form of personal conflicts and quarrels at home or in the workplace. We always need to deal with this disturbance at almost every turn of our lives. Thus, the peace that the Risen Lord offered to his Apostles and to everyone is the assurance that one can live in joy and harmony with himself and with others. The peace that Jesus gives is different from the peace that people in the world could offer. The latter would promise peace when there is a balance of power among persons or parties involved, that is, when everyone has equal number of weapons or anything that would destroy others. Jesus's peace is one that is in the heart, and a heart totally in harmony with God's will. It is a peace that is also powerful, which could liberate the person from all kinds of destruction. It is something which could satisfy the person completely.

The worker needs to experience the peace of Christ. It is not enough for the worker to maintain a peaceful co-existence with his co-workers, avoiding situations which would make life and work difficult for everyone. Troubles and conflicts would be inevitable at work; so everyone should be able to deal with them satisfactorily. The most appropriate way to arrive at a satisfying peace is for everyone to imitate Christ. Almost every situation a worker finds himself at work has a similar situation which Christ went through. The worker would do well to ask himself, "How would Christ decide/do with this situation at hand?" Then, the worker's effort in reflecting on the answer to that question, guided by his faith in Jesus and His teachings, will show him the appropriate course of action to take. Such process will certainly give the worker and the others a meaningful and fulfilling time.

The Risen Lord makes sure that His peace, love and mercy is always available to anyone who trustfully implores it from Him.

Peace in Christ

By Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

Who of these would find the most peace while at work: the construction worker who operates a jackhammer all day, a deaf janitor at a shopping mall, a domestic helper in a convent, a disc jockey, or a librarian in a university? Or maybe it would be this “cremator” I once interviewed—yes, the guy whose job is to burn the corpses, at the San Lazaro Crematorium. Asked if he found peace in his work, he said, “Ay, oho! Papano ba naman akong hindi magiging peaceful dito eh puro patay ang kaharap ko?” (Of course, yes! How can I not be peaceful here when I’m always with the dead?)

It is hard to say what kind of work can give us the most peace because peace is such a subjective thing. Often, people interchange peace and silence, when in fact there is a big difference between the two. Briefly speaking, silence is the absence of noise, while peace is the presence of calm. That is why we cannot simplistically conclude that a silent work environment would automatically give the worker peace. A jackhammer operator could find perfect peace doing his work from 9 to 5 daily, while another person could go crazy polishing floors and mowing grass in a convent the whole day.

The peace that Christ gives is independent of the sounds and noises in our midst. Whatever work environment we have, no matter how noisy or silent it is, Christ’s peace is possible, and it is all up to us. We only need to make one decision—to make Christ our “boss”—and everything else will fall into place. Having him as our ultimate boss is like writing on ruled paper: we can be stylish or crude but for as long as we respect the lines we’ll be okay. In harmony with the ethics set by the love of Christ, we cannot but find His peace in ourselves and with our co-workers. Because peace in the heart is the heart of peace.

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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