Reflections for the Working Soul: July 2017

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Finding the buried treasure

+ RWS 766 July 30, 2017, 17^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Matthew 13: 44-46

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field…”

The Treasure

By Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD

Every human being, consciously or unconsciously, is looking for a treasure which will fully satisfy everything he needs and desires. Jesus offers to everyone this treasure, which is the kingdom of heaven. This kind of treasure is not something material which could be stolen or destroyed, but, it is a life of happiness with God for all eternity. It is a life of the human being so filled with the love of God that everything he does is what God wills for him. This treasure is found in every time and place by the human being who lives and works for God, with Him and in Him. Becoming conscious and aware of the presence of the Source and Giver of life in every moment of living and working is like discovering this most valuable treasure.

One’s daily work and labor would be heavy and burdensome when the kingdom of heaven is not considered as its essential part. No amount of money and/or material compensation could satisfy fully the human worker. Deep within the worker’s being is a heart formed by the Creator after His own image, which can only be at peace only when it “rests in God’s hands”. The worker then should dig deeper in order to discover the treasure of God’s loving presence in his life and his activities. The worker needs to remind himself, or allows others to make him aware of the spiritual dimensions of his work and noble purposes and reasons for doing one’s work. He should not stop at the earthly treasures of his work; he should go beyond the good things he enjoys with his daily work by having a lively faith and love for Jesus in his daily tasks.

Eye on the treasure

By Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

This treasure Jesus speaks of is buried in a field. Repeat, buried. Which implies that we have to toil hard in order to find it. People who are employed in the big cities, it seems to me, would dig twice as hard to get to this treasure, the kingdom of God. It is because the big cities offer so many other treasures, treasures that we, human that we are, would tend to desire more than anything else. These treasures are more palpable, yield immediate pleasure, and could make us think, feel, and believe we can have heaven here and now.

Even those who earnestly seek the kingdom of God while working in the metropolis may be derailed in their search; despite their efforts at maintaining a serious prayer life—daily Mass and communion, etc.—they could still be easily distracted. I speak from experience. Even if it’s prayer that begins and closes your waking day, in between you could still be pummeled from all sides by distractions that have a way of making you feel they’re the most important things to attend to. On top of that are things we don’t really need to do but which we allow to consume our time anyway because they provide relief from stress or the semblance of a social life (talk about Facebook and Candy Crush).

What, then, do we do to stay focused on Jesus’ treasure in the midst of all our earthly “treasures”? All the ways known to me I have repeatedly written about here. I think it’s time I heard from readers. What do you do to keep your eye on the real treasure? Email me please at teresatunay@gmail.com Thank and bless you!

(Cartoon courtesy of Pinterest)

Sunday, July 23, 2017

The mustard seed

+ RWS 765 July 23, 2017, 16^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Matthew 13: 24-43

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field.”

Mustard seed

By Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD

Jesus wants everyone to come to the Kingdom of heaven. He came on earth and became man just for this—bring everyone and everything into God’s kingdom. He fulfills this mission not by uprooting man from his earthly existence but by transforming his daily life into something greater than the natural and ordinary. Jesus transforms nature into a supernatural reality, and ordinary human life and work into experiences beyond their material and temporal value. The little or insignificant human act, like a very small mustard seed, could grow into a huge, fruitful tree, through the saving and sanctifying deeds of Jesus Christ. The Lord wants to take our human existence and activities into His level of divinity. Every act we do, even the most insignificant, when done with Jesus, for Him and through Him, could be very meaningful and valuable in the sight of the Lord. It could help us gain the fruits of eternal life.

The worker should therefore take advantage of the special offer Jesus is making to everyone who wants to be saved by making the effort to be aware of the Lord’s presence in his daily life and in every place of his work and activities. He could do this by praying habitually, in his thoughts or even accustom to start his daily activities with words of prayer, worship and adoration to God. He could also invite his co-workers to simple acts of prayer in the workplace. The little practices of faith in the presence of God in the places of work and among fellow workers, would be like the mustard seed which could become a huge tree which could provide the workers abundant source of valuable and meaningful work.

A vision of goodness

By Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

Don’t you notice that many times, workplace squabbles between colleagues start from some seemingly small and insignificant thing? A casual remark, for example, could be perceived in various ways, blown up out of context and proportion and cause misunderstandings.

There is an exercise used in skills upgrading seminars to show the dynamics of verbal communication. Ten volunteers stand up front, the lecturer takes Volunteer #1 aside (two meters away) and reads to him a short piece of news which the volunteer must remember without taking notes. He then transmits what he heard to Volunteer #2 who must do the same until the news reaches Volunteer #10 who must report what he had heard. Then his report is compared to the original news item that was read to Volunteer #1. Almost always, the volunteer’s report will be very different from the original. This is because people differ in perception, interpretation, and memory.

This exercise illustrates how an apparently harmless comment could—in its multiple retelling—morph into something really destructive. If something could go from harmless to harmful, something worthless-looking (like a mustard seed) could also grow into something truly beneficial to man. Thus, it is important to have a vision of goodness to help us conserve our energy for what can lead to its realization. For followers of Jesus, that vision of goodness could be a world where love, kindness, and compassion reign supreme. The kingdom of God, indeed!

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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