When Our Lord Tells Us How to Behave at Work
When Our Lord speaks to us in the Gospels, He frequently tells just how to we ought to behave at work. Since we began this year emphasizing fundamentals with simple suggestions that will improve our work lives, let's continue now with direct suggestions from Our Lord Himself.
In St Matthew's Gospel, right after Jesus pronounces the Beatitudes, He goes on to speak simply and directly to us.
Of course, we're not expected to walk around praying the rosary, or wear one of those giant necklaces with a big cross on it that you might have occasionally seen someone wear in public. But shouldn't people know us through our words and actions? Our Lord gives us a kind of one-two punch that answers this question.
First, we are the salt of the earth. And by behaving in a way that belies our True Faith, we lose our "saltness." I think Our Lord has told us that we will no longer be good for anything if we keep on this way.
Second, Jesus calls us the light of the world. Having described who we are, he tells us exactly how we who are the light of the world ought to behave: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works..." Can He be any clearer here?
You don't need to be a Scripture scholar to understand our Lord. With few exceptions, He speaks in a manner that anyone can understand. So now we look at ourselves and ask: Are we indeed the salt of the earth, a light of the world, in our daily lives, even at work? Does our language and behavior reflect our Catholic Faith? To be clearer - we might think of the apostles and all the saints here - do we speak and act in a way that tells people with whom we work that we are followers Jesus Christ? Is our work at a level of care and excellence that we might expect if we could observe Our Lord working with St Joseph in the family business?
In St Matthew's Gospel, right after Jesus pronounces the Beatitudes, He goes on to speak simply and directly to us.
You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. (Mat 5:13)When I read these words, I'm reminded of how many of us - even us practicing Catholics - leave our Faith at the door when we start the work day. What I specifically mean is that we've become convinced that religion has no place in public. I think we've also been raised to believe that we Catholics should blend in and be like everyone else. You see this most dramatically in how many married Catholics use artificial contraception. But this attitude permeates the language and behavior of too many of us as well.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Mat 5:14-16)
Of course, we're not expected to walk around praying the rosary, or wear one of those giant necklaces with a big cross on it that you might have occasionally seen someone wear in public. But shouldn't people know us through our words and actions? Our Lord gives us a kind of one-two punch that answers this question.
First, we are the salt of the earth. And by behaving in a way that belies our True Faith, we lose our "saltness." I think Our Lord has told us that we will no longer be good for anything if we keep on this way.
Second, Jesus calls us the light of the world. Having described who we are, he tells us exactly how we who are the light of the world ought to behave: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works..." Can He be any clearer here?
You don't need to be a Scripture scholar to understand our Lord. With few exceptions, He speaks in a manner that anyone can understand. So now we look at ourselves and ask: Are we indeed the salt of the earth, a light of the world, in our daily lives, even at work? Does our language and behavior reflect our Catholic Faith? To be clearer - we might think of the apostles and all the saints here - do we speak and act in a way that tells people with whom we work that we are followers Jesus Christ? Is our work at a level of care and excellence that we might expect if we could observe Our Lord working with St Joseph in the family business?
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