RWS for January 29

+  RWS 479 January 29, 2012

4^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel:  Mark 1: 21-28

23 In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; 24 he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?

 I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"

                                                                                                                                      

Unclean spirits at work

By Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD

The fearful complaint of the presence of Jesus by the man with an unclean spirit in the gospel incident cited above reminds me of a very common and pervasive situation in the world today and even at the work place and among workers—the lack of awareness of God’s presence and His loving will to save everyone, or, the apparent dominance of temporal and material things over those that are spiritual.  There is the so-called “tyranny of relativism” where things are considered not on absolute truths but on what suits personal and/or individual preferences.

Those who consider the workers more like tools and machineries for the production of goods, and who subsequently prefer greater profits than the greater welfare of the workers and their dependents—are like the man with an unclean spirit who fights against what Jesus came to earth for, which is to save mankind from all kinds of bondage, both in body and in spirit.  Likewise, the workers who do not see beyond their work and the material benefits thereof and do not make extra effort to inform and form themselves about the reality of God and their dependence on Him, are “silently”, and perhaps, unconsciously objecting to God’s active concern on His creatures and on the world which He has created.  Extraordinary sighting of demonic presence at the work place or scary manifestations of the evil spirits’ possession of workers may not be reported, but, there are certainly a lot of situations and things which point to the presence of the evil spirit in the world of work.

I believe that every worker should also beware of the presence of evil in the workplace and the various faces or forms it manifests. Recognizing one’s sins, mistakes and wrongdoings—one’s alliance with evil—is the first step to fearing the Lord and eventually crying for His mercy and forgiveness, thus, perfecting not only one’s work, but also one’s life.

Evil spirits in the workplace

By Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

Some years back I witnessed an exorcism at a construction site—a big hotel near Roxas Boulevard.  The owners of the building asked for it as they believed evil spirits were lurking, victimizing workers in a series of accidents, the worst of which was when a worker walked into a floorless elevator and naturally plunged to a grim death.  The exorcism rite was nothing like we see in the movies involving an exorcist battling the devil possessing a person.  This was an interreligious thing where “prayer warriors” holed out in a glass walled room on the ground floor prayed the rosary the whole night, while a select group of exorcists conducted a kabbala-based ritual several storeys up.

There to observe and write about the ritual, I was allowed to see the preparation, and was given enough information about what was to happen, but for my own protection I was told to stay with the prayer warriors during the ritual itself.  (By the way, the prayer warriors’ room was encircled in salt, a substance believed to shield one against evil spirits, and we inside that room were warned not to look outside the glass walls lest we see someone we know but who’s actually an evil spirit in disguise wanting to come in).  So, the exorcists had Latin prayers written inside a huge circle of salt where the exorcists were to sit during the ritual.  While kabbala is Jewish, the exorcists used some Catholic saints’ images, the crucifix, holy water, and lots of candles burning.

My point in telling you about this is: we need not wait for workers to die mysterious deaths in order to believe that there are evil spirits in the workplace.  Just as benevolent spirits are everywhere, so are malignant ones.  We could even be possessed by an unclean spirit, sad to say, without knowing, or admitting, that we are.  As long as we refuse to know ourselves to recognize that we could be enslaved by evil spirits, we will be cooperating with them in corrupting the workplace.  The spirit of pride, of anger, of lust, of sloth, of envy, et al—are they not present in us?  How are we freed from them?  As the gospel says—Jesus commands the unclean spirits and they obey Him!  Take a hint.   

+  RWS 478 January 22, 2012

3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel:  Mark 1: 14-20

17 Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."

18 Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.

                                                                                                                                      

Workers of Christ

By Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD

From simple fishermen to “fishers of men” was what Simon and Andrew became when they heeded the call of Jesus to follow Him. In the context of our daily work, we can say that there could be a kind of transformation that would happen with our work and with us, the workers, as we make the presence of Jesus real in our respective jobs and professions. This is a challenge for all workers to face if they want to get the most out of their daily works and life.

Jesus, today and until the end of time, continues to invite everyone to believe in Him and follow His way of life as He did with people in His earthly sojourn. His presence continues through the living words of the Scriptures such as the Gospels, through the Church He established and the Sacraments He instituted, through the persons He has chosen and authorized to represent Him and make known His will, and, in the very depths of one’s heart—the conscience, which is the “voice of God” in each person He has created in His image and likeness. Jesus’ presence therefore is so available that anytime and every time the worker could come to Him, and be transformed into what the Lord wants him to be. Jesus certainly wants us to be more than just this world can offer; He wills that we become like Him too.

These spiritual dimensions of our life and work are those which make the workers more than just simply workers, but they become “workers of God” or “workers of Jesus”; they are worth more than just what their human employers could pay. To qualify for this superior category of workers, one must, like Simon and Andrew, “abandon their nets”—leave behind the material and earthly perspective of work or give them less attention and value than the spiritual and lasting ones. The worker then should also think of how he can follow Jesus through his work. He needs to invoke the Spirit of Jesus and allow Him to lead and guide him in this challenge.

‘Kinda silly’

By Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

While awaiting my turn at the city hall’s revenue office the other day, I had the leisure of observing the interaction between the clerks and their clients.  For some unknown reason my attention was nailed on this middle-aged guy issuing residence certificates.  For an even more mysterious reason my imagination went wild and flew to Galilee to picture a carpenter telling the fishermen to follow him to be made “fishers of men”—which is what today’s gospel is about.

With my eyes on the clerk and my mind in Galilee I wondered what Simon and Andrew felt at that moment Jesus walked by and called them.  Did they not think it was “kinda silly” to be promised a new fishing job?  I watched the guy’s repetitive actions and thought, Omigod, what a boring job, issuing residence certificates day in and day out.  How would he react if Jesus walked in and offered him a job as a “fisher of men”?  He’ll probably say, “But this is the only thing I know how to do, I’ve been at this for 19 years now!”  But then I mused, Would Jesus ask him, seriously? And I thought, Why not?  Indeed, why not?

With no exception Jesus calls everybody to follow Him and be “fishers of men”—whatever our trade or profession is.  But while He bids us to trace His footsteps, He meets us where we are: He doesn’t expect us to be miracle workers, icons of democracy, war heroes, Nobel Prize winners, geniuses or superstars.  Following Him may be as simple as being a good child to our Father from day to day, doing as He tells us, trusting Him in everything, befriending Him,  turning our work into service, so that seeing a reflection of Jesus in our countenance, others “get hooked” on Jesus in His network of compassion.  The guy who issues residence certificates eight hours a day—by his cheerfulness and friendly service he is following Jesus, and Jesus is using him as a bait with which to catch men.    

RWS 283 April 27, 2008, 6th Sunday in Easter

Gospel: John 14: 15-21

16”… And I will ask the Father, and he will give you …the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it.”

The truthful worker

By Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD

Once I asked a personnel manager what would be the desirable traits and qualities he or his company wanted to see in the workers. He answered that truthfulness in words and deeds was among the most desirable ones. But then, I thought to myself, is truthfulness just simply something desirable in a person? Is it not that the human being necessarily searches for the truth and strives to live by it, thus to be truthful is not only like a “second nature” or a habit, albeit desirable in a worker but, that it should be his very nature to conform to the truth?

Yet, you and I know that the reality in our world, in our society and in our very own self is laden with graft and corruption in myriads of forms and in varying degrees. The workplace and the business world likewise are the arena where truthfulness is fiercely challenged by evil and deception. The truthful person or worker has become therefore like a priced commodity with a very limited supply. The truthful worker who is imbued with the “Spirit of truth” which the Father gives and “which the world cannot accept” is becoming very rare in our midst. There is therefore an urgent and great need for forming new truthful workers or transforming the recent crop into desirable ones.

The worker’s correct understanding of the nature of his being a human person could lead him to realize that doing truthfully his job—performing every task required by his work with all honesty in his heart—would give him the satisfaction that he has been true to himself. Moreover, his faith in Jesus and love for Him could strengthen him to be always truthful and would make him feel victorious over those who would choose the different path.

Your truth, my truth…

By Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

There is no such thing as an “ideal workplace” where nobody fights or disagrees. And when co-workers fight or disagree, the root cause is normally a difference in perceptions. What is truth to one may not be truth to the other. They have varying “truths”, and the situation is aggravated by their refusal to see that the other person could also be right. Both could be well meaning, both respect each other, yet conflicts could arise from a divergence of opinions. When one is forced to give in to the other, bitter feelings result. And when neither concedes, a stalemate occurs, and the work suffers.

This reminds me of the three blind men who were asked “What is an elephant?” The first one, holding the elephant’s tail, said “The elephant is long, hairy and likes to swing about.” The second, stroking its tusk, said, “No! The elephant has no hair; it’s smooth and hard!” The third, hugging the animal’s leg, replied, “The elephant is like a big tree trunk with a funny-feeling bark and no roots!” Are the blind men telling the truth? Of course, yes and no—they’re all right and all wrong, just like when you and your co-worker(s) fight because each of you sees only a part of the “elephant” that is the problematic situation. Neither of you may be blind, but all opponents are myopic, and that’s virtual blindness when it comes to agreeing on the truth.

Conflicts can be avoided, and disagreements can be prevented from escalating into a full-blown intramural warfare. Just by stepping back and out of your nearsighted zone, you can see the bigger picture, and forestall a head-on collision. It’s difficult to step back when you insist you’re the only one right, but it’s not impossible. It’s not impossible to “see Jesus” in your opponent and view his truth in the light of His promise to “give you the Spirit of Truth.” Even when the whole world does not accept it, you will never regret if you do.

RWS 282 April 20, 2008, 5th Sunday in Easter

Gospel: John 14: 1-12

12 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will

do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these,

because I am going to the Father.

Over the top

By Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD

Many times we hear it said of us or of some of our friends, “You accomplished five times more than what your predecessor did in the same span of time”. Such very affirming remark could boost the self-image of the person receiving it and would inspire him to even greater heights in his career, work or profession. As they say, ‘knowledge of results is a great motivator”. Receiving praises or awards for one’s great deeds would predictably make the awarded do greater things. Yet, there would be cases where the affirmations generously given would not result in a much greater work performance. It would seem important then to analyze the factors contributing to greater work success.

Besides what is said above on the importance of getting positive feedbacks on one’s performance, the worker’s academic, technical and other specific preparations would determine very considerably his high rating in work. Job training and qualifications could spell the difference in the worker’s productivity. One could never say enough in his efforts to acquire new skills or re-train in other fields in order to catch up with the ever increasing demands of modern jobs and the fast changing technology-driven professions. The worker nowadays will have to acquire more external qualifications to fit into most of the present jobs available.

Furthermore, there are also the inner qualifications which the worker should possess in order to compete with the ever growing complexity of the work and with the harsh and hurtful work environment. Having good values and attitudes would make the worker not only highly “marketable” but also greatly successful in his job. But the inner qualities of the worker’s faith in Jesus and love for Him would put him over the top.

Too fantastic to be true?

By Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

No matter how exciting and fulfilling your work may be, you can’t escape occasional down times—moments when work gets to be simply b-o-r-i-n-g! It’s a job-related malady whose symptoms are: inexplicable fatigue; irritability with co-workers; short patience or temper; low productivity or creativity level; strong tendency to be anti-social; a hovering desire to quit working; almost total loss of interest in meeting challenges; etc. There’s really nothing wrong with the workplace or your co-workers and yet everything seems to be wrong for you!

Perhaps some people are just more sensitive to such dry times than others, thus they feel it more often or more intensely. And if some people don’t go through such down times at all, maybe it’s because they’re very good at amusing themselves so that boredom hardly gets in the way of work. In order that it may not daunt us some of us try to dismiss it with either “Nagme-menopause na siguro!” or “Ay, midlife crisis lang yan!” Companies that know better invest in measures that prevent such dangerous personal crises in their workers by installing periodic recreational programs or activities for employees, such as sports fests and tournaments or outings.

There is, however, a way out of such a feeling of stagnation that any worker, whatever his or her situation, can utilize independent of external help and without side effects: believing in the truth of Jesus’ words, like those in today’s gospel. If we know Him we’ll also know the Father. If we believe in His works, we can even do greater ones. Unbelievable? Senseless God-talk? Too fantastic to be true? Plain corny? Why not be brave and try it? Befriend Jesus, and do His bidding. What do you lose—it’s for free! It’s a mystery, so embrace it, live it. Only cowards shun mysteries. Mine His words—and strike it rich! Game ka na ba?

RWS 281 for April 13, 2008, 4th Sunday in Easter

Gospel: John 10: 1-10

“10 …I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

Working mother

By Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD

The words of Jesus in verse 10 of the tenth chapter of the Gospel of John were my inspiration to write the phrase at the tombstone of my mother’s resting place: “She gave her life that we may live”. Nanay Deling, as we, her children fondly called her, worked so hard in order to augment the income to support our large family. She would do a variety of jobs from menial ones, such as buying vegetables from village farmers and selling them at the city market, to some top-level ones like managing a small scale RTW (ready-to-wear) garment factory. She was a very hard working mother who never tired spending her time and energy for us, giving us not only the physical nourishment but above all the moral and spiritual formation we most needed. She was not only the medium for our physical and human life but she was also instrumental for the development of our “more abundant” life—the emotional, psychological, social, moral and spiritual aspects of life.

Moreover, my mother gave also her time and energy for our neighbors who needed help. She would spend time to assist some of those giving birth; she was always ready to lead the prayers for the dead, and to serve as nurse in administering medicines to some sick people in the remote places of our village. While she was not a professional midwife, or pastor/minister, or nurse, she did those jobs with skill and competence and, as I observed in the many occasions I was with her, doing them with great faith and love for God and with kindness and care for those she served. I have seen how those whom she served were greatly satisfied; in a sense, they received “abundant life” (healing, some inner peace and satisfaction) through the work my mother did for them. I guess, it was her way of trying to imitate the Great Worker—Jesus.

RWS 280 April 6, 2008, 3rd Sunday of Easter

Gospel: Luke 24:13-35

25 And he said to them, "… How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!

26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer

these things and enter into his glory?"

Suffering and work

By Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD

Jesus explained to His disciples that the “Messiah should suffer” in carrying out his mission; and, that it is a “Suffering Servant” who would set God’s chosen people free from all kinds of slavery. This was something so different from what the people in Jesus’ time, including His disciples, expected. They were waiting for some triumphant and majestic king who would vanquish all their oppressors and would provide them freely with “milk and honey”. So Jesus showed by words and deeds and by His very life and death that the reality of suffering is part and parcel of life and work here on earth; but also that this necessary evil could be the source of one’s happiness and peace.

It is certainly our experience, too, that suffering is necessarily part of our life at work. We cannot have things done just by saying a wish or striking the air with a magic wand. We have to sweat it out in order to produce things; squeeze out our minds to plan the production or manufacturing system, and the whole complex of business and industry in order to supply the ever growing demands of people for goods and services. Suffering in all its kinds and forms is an indispensable investment in the business of work.

Some workers would grudgingly bear the pains and burdens of their work all their life and even become bitter about it and about everything. Some would rationalize the harsh realities in the workplace and try to cope with it, accept reality and live with it rather peacefully. Those who believe in Christ would feel the presence of their suffering Lord and be inspired to bear every pain and suffering at work. Uniting themselves with the Messiah, and lovingly suffering with Him would make work not only gainful materially but also and most importantly spiritually redeeming.

Foretaste of His glory

By Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

Occasionally, at work, a dark horse would rise to save the day for the company. One such dark horse is Mang Goring, messenger, collector and all-around errand man for a multi-national company. He’s not the garrulous type like one VP’s driver who always has something to say about everything, but one day Mang Goring made a comment about the performance of Roman, a bright newcomer whom the president had trusted so much. Coming from a good family and educated abroad, Roman’s credentials were impressive, his person was affable, and his approach to work was innovative and effective.

Then, before a year was over, Roman vanished. The president was in shock and the whole company was mute with disbelief—it was discovered that Roman had ran away with millions of the company’s money expertly siphoned off to his secret bank accounts. Mang Goring’s casual comment about Roman proved to be an unheeded warning—he turned out to be the prophet no one heard.

Jesus in today’s gospel mentions those who are “… slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!” As we can see, then as now, people do not automatically open their ears to prophets. All the more now, in our time, when people would rather listen to idols. And our idols these days, more often than not, are the “with it” people—smart, gregarious, driven, articulate achievers with PhDs tailing their names—unlike Mang Goring, an undergraduate from some obscure high school in the Visayas. There are many Mang Gorings in our midst, dark horses who are not only unnoticed but who also suffer in silence, yet they are at peace and grateful for their lot. Believing that Christ is with them in their suffering, they are already blessed with a foretaste of His glory.