Our Mother at Work
Picture Our Blessed Lady - our Mother - at work. Picture her standing or sitting beside you. And remember that this month, the month of May, is her special month.
Now think about the way you behaved at work yesterday, or today...whenever. Would your Mother be proud of you?
Would she approve of your language, for example? I've worked with men (and, sadly, women these days) whose language made me blush. Indeed, in that environment, I've found my own language slipped a notch or two. If I blushed hearing others speak, why would I speak that way? And if I blushed, imagine how my Mother would react.
Have you ever heard male co-workers comment about female co-workers - or any other woman - in an impure manner? Do you know men who physically or verbally leer at women either in their presence, or comment about them when they're not there? I hope you never behave in this manner. Can you imagine how our Mother would feel if you did?
How about the way you treat your co-workers. My biological mother, God rest her soul, was always friendly and hospitable to people. I know this both because I observed it growing up, and because people commented about her being this way. She welcomed people into our home and made them feel welcome. Even when some people overstayed their welcome (which happens sometimes) you'd never know it from my Mom's behavior. Somehow I can't imagine our Heavenly Mother being any different.
So do you always treat your co-workers this way, in a friendly manner? Are you always hospitable when they stop by? Do you try to be helpful when they ask for your opinion or assistance? When they overstay their welcome, do you show it by your impatience or, worse, rudeness? Or do you simply patiently let them know that you're busy and need to get back to work.
May is Mary's month. We honor her in a special way this month. In case you forgot, her most important title is Mother of God. And, just as she really and truly is the Mother of God, she is really and truly our Mother. It's not just some sort of nice image we have of her that makes us feel good about her. She really is our Mother - literally our Mother.
Why literally our Mother? Because we are all part of the Mystical Body of Christ. Mary is called Mother of God because she was literally the Mother of Christ. If we are part of the Body of Christ - and we are - then she is our Mother. Mary is literally our Mother.
So if you think you might be embarrassed in any way if Our Blessed Mother happened to be standing beside you while you work, now is the time to change - just for her sake. You do love her, don't you? She deserves your love, just like your earthly mother deserves your love. Mary is just as much your mother as your earthly mother.
If you have trouble controlling bad language or bad or unpleasant behavior at work, you're not giving good example to others. As a Catholic man at work, your example should attract others to the Faith. Bad language and behavior won't attract others to the Faith.
So if you do have trouble with your language or behavior, try thinking of Mary, our Mother (and the Mother of God) standing right there with you watching you. And if your behavior doesn't measure up to the standards of a Catholic man at work, tell her you're sorry. Better, tell her you're embarrassed and you're sorry. It's not just our sinful acts that upset her, it's also our bad or crude behavior. As your proud Mother, she doesn't want you to be anything less than good, the best you can be.
Ask for her forgiveness and for her help in being the good example that a Catholic man at work should be. Take the time during her month of May to seek her help. Remember that she's your Mother and you love her - and she loves you.
Now think about the way you behaved at work yesterday, or today...whenever. Would your Mother be proud of you?
Would she approve of your language, for example? I've worked with men (and, sadly, women these days) whose language made me blush. Indeed, in that environment, I've found my own language slipped a notch or two. If I blushed hearing others speak, why would I speak that way? And if I blushed, imagine how my Mother would react.
Have you ever heard male co-workers comment about female co-workers - or any other woman - in an impure manner? Do you know men who physically or verbally leer at women either in their presence, or comment about them when they're not there? I hope you never behave in this manner. Can you imagine how our Mother would feel if you did?
How about the way you treat your co-workers. My biological mother, God rest her soul, was always friendly and hospitable to people. I know this both because I observed it growing up, and because people commented about her being this way. She welcomed people into our home and made them feel welcome. Even when some people overstayed their welcome (which happens sometimes) you'd never know it from my Mom's behavior. Somehow I can't imagine our Heavenly Mother being any different.
So do you always treat your co-workers this way, in a friendly manner? Are you always hospitable when they stop by? Do you try to be helpful when they ask for your opinion or assistance? When they overstay their welcome, do you show it by your impatience or, worse, rudeness? Or do you simply patiently let them know that you're busy and need to get back to work.
May is Mary's month. We honor her in a special way this month. In case you forgot, her most important title is Mother of God. And, just as she really and truly is the Mother of God, she is really and truly our Mother. It's not just some sort of nice image we have of her that makes us feel good about her. She really is our Mother - literally our Mother.
Why literally our Mother? Because we are all part of the Mystical Body of Christ. Mary is called Mother of God because she was literally the Mother of Christ. If we are part of the Body of Christ - and we are - then she is our Mother. Mary is literally our Mother.
So if you think you might be embarrassed in any way if Our Blessed Mother happened to be standing beside you while you work, now is the time to change - just for her sake. You do love her, don't you? She deserves your love, just like your earthly mother deserves your love. Mary is just as much your mother as your earthly mother.
If you have trouble controlling bad language or bad or unpleasant behavior at work, you're not giving good example to others. As a Catholic man at work, your example should attract others to the Faith. Bad language and behavior won't attract others to the Faith.
So if you do have trouble with your language or behavior, try thinking of Mary, our Mother (and the Mother of God) standing right there with you watching you. And if your behavior doesn't measure up to the standards of a Catholic man at work, tell her you're sorry. Better, tell her you're embarrassed and you're sorry. It's not just our sinful acts that upset her, it's also our bad or crude behavior. As your proud Mother, she doesn't want you to be anything less than good, the best you can be.
Ask for her forgiveness and for her help in being the good example that a Catholic man at work should be. Take the time during her month of May to seek her help. Remember that she's your Mother and you love her - and she loves you.
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