To Sustain Us at Work During Lent
Once Lent gets going, some of us may have a tendency to forget that "special" discipline we were going to practice during this holy season. It's only natural, especially for those of us sucked into and absorbed by the pressing demands of daily work.
When work exhausts you, as it frequently does me, you might not have the will or the determination to persist in special of "extra" spiritual efforts, or even, for that matter, normal, everyday spiritual efforts. Since Lent presents the ultimate challenge here, let's take a deep breath and look at some ways to sustain us.
First, we remember the so-called "Three Pillars of Lent": prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. What were your commitments here? I know I need to remind myself throughout Lent; it's just too easy to forget when you're busy all the time.
What's that, you didn't make any special resolutions here? OK, don't beat yourself up, just take a moment and commit right now. It doesn't have to be a big deal or a complicated process. Maybe you'll say an extra rosary every day, or say the Stations of the Cross one or more times per week (prayer). Maybe you'll cut out a favorite food, dessert, or even observe the traditional fast of having two of your daily meals not equal your main meal (fasting). Maybe you'll be more generous towards that good Catholic organization, or - even better - more generous in giving the better side of yourself to others in avoiding unpleasant behavior and increasing your charitable thoughts, words and deeds (almsgiving). (If you're married, you might start with your wife and - if you've got 'em - children.)
The key is to commit and then persist in trying to meet those commitments, even as you might waver or fail in sustaining them from time to time.
So if that's helpful, here's something from a great spiritual writer, Father Edward Leen. Here he reminds us of what really needs to be central to our lives. It's especially important for us Catholic men at work, since the pressing nature of daily work can sometimes mitigate our efforts in the spiritual life. It's a good tonic for those thoughts or feelings that place our spiritual lives in the position of being optional (I'll get to it when I have time) or somehow peripheral or ephemeral (I'll get to it just as soon as I handle the obligations of my "real" life.) Here Father Leen notes that while Jesus saved us, he also taught us a philosophy of life. If Lent helps to center our attention on the suffering and death of Our Lord in His Passion, it's good to remember too that so much of the Gospels' and Apostles' teaching about Him conveyed a way of life that all of us would do well to imitate as best we can. I can't think of a shorter or simpler statement of that way of life than these words of Father Leen describing the philosophy of life Our Lord taught us during his days on earth:
When work exhausts you, as it frequently does me, you might not have the will or the determination to persist in special of "extra" spiritual efforts, or even, for that matter, normal, everyday spiritual efforts. Since Lent presents the ultimate challenge here, let's take a deep breath and look at some ways to sustain us.
First, we remember the so-called "Three Pillars of Lent": prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. What were your commitments here? I know I need to remind myself throughout Lent; it's just too easy to forget when you're busy all the time.
What's that, you didn't make any special resolutions here? OK, don't beat yourself up, just take a moment and commit right now. It doesn't have to be a big deal or a complicated process. Maybe you'll say an extra rosary every day, or say the Stations of the Cross one or more times per week (prayer). Maybe you'll cut out a favorite food, dessert, or even observe the traditional fast of having two of your daily meals not equal your main meal (fasting). Maybe you'll be more generous towards that good Catholic organization, or - even better - more generous in giving the better side of yourself to others in avoiding unpleasant behavior and increasing your charitable thoughts, words and deeds (almsgiving). (If you're married, you might start with your wife and - if you've got 'em - children.)
The key is to commit and then persist in trying to meet those commitments, even as you might waver or fail in sustaining them from time to time.
So if that's helpful, here's something from a great spiritual writer, Father Edward Leen. Here he reminds us of what really needs to be central to our lives. It's especially important for us Catholic men at work, since the pressing nature of daily work can sometimes mitigate our efforts in the spiritual life. It's a good tonic for those thoughts or feelings that place our spiritual lives in the position of being optional (I'll get to it when I have time) or somehow peripheral or ephemeral (I'll get to it just as soon as I handle the obligations of my "real" life.) Here Father Leen notes that while Jesus saved us, he also taught us a philosophy of life. If Lent helps to center our attention on the suffering and death of Our Lord in His Passion, it's good to remember too that so much of the Gospels' and Apostles' teaching about Him conveyed a way of life that all of us would do well to imitate as best we can. I can't think of a shorter or simpler statement of that way of life than these words of Father Leen describing the philosophy of life Our Lord taught us during his days on earth:
“It propounded that man’s highest good on earth was the attainment of the spiritual life, and that what man chiefly shrank from (suffering) was a most portent aid to the realization of this spiritual life…happiness on earth was to be found only in the spiritual life, that is, the life of intimate union with God.”With these reminders, let's renew our resolve to observe Lent as we ought.
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee,
because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
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