Two Saints To Help Us At Work
Last week we celebrated the feast of St Theresa of Avila; the week before that St John Leonardi. They'll help us this week at work, starting right now.
First, St John said to "start anew with Christ every day." So wake up, gents, and start fresh. Whatever's bugging you, whatever sins you've got weighing you down, forget it. Get up and start pumping: morning offering, meditation, reading scripture and spiritual works - get that 30 - 45 minutes in this morning.
Now, get to work. But don't forget your rosary, even daily Mass. Remember God throughout the day - at least every once in a while. Each time something goes right today, "Thank you Jesus." Each time something's not going well, "Help me Jesus." Keep your mind on your work, but don't forget God. And if you can take time for a rosary, for Mass, for a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, do it.
Now through it all, work hard - even be cheerful. People notice. If you want people to get to know Christ (We all want that, right?), be cheerful. Be honest, forthright, don't gossip (or even listen to gossip). OK?
Remember, start anew every day - starting with this day.
What's that? You started anew but things are already out of whack? The trains late, traffic's backed up, the boss reamed you unfairly, you lost a client, your assistant screwed up and didn't tell you, everything's crumbling all around you?
St Theresa of Avila's most famous poem (she wrote poetry on top of everything else she did) to the rescue!
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.
But they're saints; I'm not. Forget that. They'd be the first ones to tell you to forget it. They didn't think they were so great. They were like you and me. Struggled every day. The difference: they became saints. And so can we. One step at a time.
There. Two saints for this day. They're both in heaven waiting to hear from you. Give them a shout. Go ahead. Their intercession will spur you on. Start anew with Christ and keep chugging away knowing that whatever disturbs or even frightens you won't last. Ask them to help you remember this.
First, St John said to "start anew with Christ every day." So wake up, gents, and start fresh. Whatever's bugging you, whatever sins you've got weighing you down, forget it. Get up and start pumping: morning offering, meditation, reading scripture and spiritual works - get that 30 - 45 minutes in this morning.
Now, get to work. But don't forget your rosary, even daily Mass. Remember God throughout the day - at least every once in a while. Each time something goes right today, "Thank you Jesus." Each time something's not going well, "Help me Jesus." Keep your mind on your work, but don't forget God. And if you can take time for a rosary, for Mass, for a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, do it.
Now through it all, work hard - even be cheerful. People notice. If you want people to get to know Christ (We all want that, right?), be cheerful. Be honest, forthright, don't gossip (or even listen to gossip). OK?
Remember, start anew every day - starting with this day.
What's that? You started anew but things are already out of whack? The trains late, traffic's backed up, the boss reamed you unfairly, you lost a client, your assistant screwed up and didn't tell you, everything's crumbling all around you?
St Theresa of Avila's most famous poem (she wrote poetry on top of everything else she did) to the rescue!
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.
But they're saints; I'm not. Forget that. They'd be the first ones to tell you to forget it. They didn't think they were so great. They were like you and me. Struggled every day. The difference: they became saints. And so can we. One step at a time.
There. Two saints for this day. They're both in heaven waiting to hear from you. Give them a shout. Go ahead. Their intercession will spur you on. Start anew with Christ and keep chugging away knowing that whatever disturbs or even frightens you won't last. Ask them to help you remember this.
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