More Suggestions From St. Benedict About Performing Good Works at Work During Lent
We continue with the "Tools of Good Works" from St. Benedict's Holy Rule to help us focus on those acts of charity that we can perform during Lent in the work place.
We start today with:
But first, let's establish that this isn't about walking on eggshells all day at work. If you happen to be hearing the crackling sound of eggshells as you walk about your place of business, they've likely been dropped in your path by your company. As many of us know, these days anything you do or say can be used against you. You're even be putting your job - if not your life - on the line simply holding a door for a woman. How offensive - treating a woman as if she's something special, therefore not a strict "equal." But we're getting side-tracked. Let's get back to our two "tools" and take them in order.
A Catholic gentleman, by his very nature, guards his actions in the course of the day. And it's not that hard to do if you make up your mind to behave like a gentleman. (Just watch that holding-the-door-for-a-woman stuff.) Your daily prayers, your spiritual reading each day, as well as your study of Catholic doctrine builds both a solid moral foundation along with a well-formed conscience that keep your thoughts, words, and deeds in line with your faith. As a result, we Catholics know instantly when a word or action by ourselves or others is out of line. Keeping constant guard should be a by-product of a life filled with and bolstered by prayer, sacrifice, and charitable deeds - just what we're emphasizing now during Lent. Add to this package a daily examination of conscience along with regular confession. Such a combination will eventually ship-shape even the most misshapen of us. Guarding your actions becomes second-nature.
As for knowing "that God sees one everywhere," the first thing we should note is simply that it's rather obvious, isn't it? Daunting maybe. But aren't we far beyond the point of thinking that there's some place or time when we "do what we want to do" without God noticing it? Seriously. Let's get past that and on to why it's really good - in fact wonderful - that God indeed "sees one everywhere." Instead of thinking of Our Lord as the strict father, the school disciplinarian, the boss who points his or her finger or pounces at every misstep, think instead about why God sees us everywhere all the time. To use a contemporary expression, it's because "He's there for us." And He's there because He loves us - far more than any of us can know or even imagine. Just think about Our Lord hanging on His Cross, not just to save "mankind," but specifically to save you. He knew you then, and He knows you now. In fact, He knows just how imperfect you are, and understands that, yes, you are "a worm and no man" (Psalm 21:6). So He's there to help you overcome all that.
Instead of looking over your shoulder and fretting, rejoice! No need to run and hide. He knows all about each one of us. He knew it all when He suffered and died for us. That's why He did. So as we persist in our Lenten discipline, let's take these two "Tools of Good Works" that Saint Benedict has given us, pull them out of our tool box and get to work today. Be grateful that He Who see us is in fact a loving Father watching over us as we do our best to work for His greater glory today.
We conclude today's remarks as we have been, with this traditional exhortation from the praying of the Stations of the Cross, to remind ourselves we live and work now in the holy season of Lent:
We start today with:
- To keep constant guard over the actions of one's life.
- To know for certain that God sees one everywhere.
But first, let's establish that this isn't about walking on eggshells all day at work. If you happen to be hearing the crackling sound of eggshells as you walk about your place of business, they've likely been dropped in your path by your company. As many of us know, these days anything you do or say can be used against you. You're even be putting your job - if not your life - on the line simply holding a door for a woman. How offensive - treating a woman as if she's something special, therefore not a strict "equal." But we're getting side-tracked. Let's get back to our two "tools" and take them in order.
A Catholic gentleman, by his very nature, guards his actions in the course of the day. And it's not that hard to do if you make up your mind to behave like a gentleman. (Just watch that holding-the-door-for-a-woman stuff.) Your daily prayers, your spiritual reading each day, as well as your study of Catholic doctrine builds both a solid moral foundation along with a well-formed conscience that keep your thoughts, words, and deeds in line with your faith. As a result, we Catholics know instantly when a word or action by ourselves or others is out of line. Keeping constant guard should be a by-product of a life filled with and bolstered by prayer, sacrifice, and charitable deeds - just what we're emphasizing now during Lent. Add to this package a daily examination of conscience along with regular confession. Such a combination will eventually ship-shape even the most misshapen of us. Guarding your actions becomes second-nature.
As for knowing "that God sees one everywhere," the first thing we should note is simply that it's rather obvious, isn't it? Daunting maybe. But aren't we far beyond the point of thinking that there's some place or time when we "do what we want to do" without God noticing it? Seriously. Let's get past that and on to why it's really good - in fact wonderful - that God indeed "sees one everywhere." Instead of thinking of Our Lord as the strict father, the school disciplinarian, the boss who points his or her finger or pounces at every misstep, think instead about why God sees us everywhere all the time. To use a contemporary expression, it's because "He's there for us." And He's there because He loves us - far more than any of us can know or even imagine. Just think about Our Lord hanging on His Cross, not just to save "mankind," but specifically to save you. He knew you then, and He knows you now. In fact, He knows just how imperfect you are, and understands that, yes, you are "a worm and no man" (Psalm 21:6). So He's there to help you overcome all that.
Instead of looking over your shoulder and fretting, rejoice! No need to run and hide. He knows all about each one of us. He knew it all when He suffered and died for us. That's why He did. So as we persist in our Lenten discipline, let's take these two "Tools of Good Works" that Saint Benedict has given us, pull them out of our tool box and get to work today. Be grateful that He Who see us is in fact a loving Father watching over us as we do our best to work for His greater glory today.
We conclude today's remarks as we have been, with this traditional exhortation from the praying of the Stations of the Cross, to remind ourselves we live and work now in the holy season of Lent:
We adore Thee O Christ and we bless Thee,
Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou Hast Redeemed the world.
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