Understanding Our Work Through God's Work - Part 2

Today Cardinal Wyszynski shows us exactly how an understanding of the work of God elevates the status of our own work. Last time we learned not only that God works, but also the nature of that work. With that knowledge we find ourselves assisting God in His work:

Everything that lives is bound up with this work.; everything is dependent on it for existence. It is worthwhile keeping this picture before one's eyes so as not to overestimate the fruits of one's own work. Man creates nothing; he merely transforms God's ready-made gifts. God alone acts and creates in the true meaning of that word: man is but God's co-worker, His helpmate.

Wait a minute. Didn't we say the work of God elevates the status of our own work? Yes, we did. But not in a way some of us might expect. We're not playing the "self-esteem" game here. Neither are we concerned about building up our personal wealth or power. Being God's co-worker has nothing to do with that. We're not the star of the show. The spotlight shines on God, not us. We bask in His light, not our own. That's why Cardinal Wyszynski urges each of us to always remember this "so as not to overestimate the fruits of one's own work."

With such an understanding, we can avoid becoming puffed up by our accomplishments, and more so when we are particularly successful. That's why so many saints attributed anything and everything good they might do to God, yet took responsibility for anything bad they might do. Put another way, we do good things with the help of God's grace, bad things through our own faults.

Now, it may seem as if you're somehow giving something up here. Not taking credit for an accomplishment may seem somehow unfair. You work your tail off, achieve a degree of success, and now you're supposed to just hand the whole thing off to God and, as it were, step into the shadows? The short answer: Yes. If this still somehow seems to be a diminishing of your efforts, read carefully  Cardinal Wyszynski's further explanation: 

God, exercising His Providence over the world, designs the whole plan down to the minutest detail; He Himself enacts directly not only the general laws by which the world is to be ruled, but also their smallest subsections. He is concerned for the birds of the air and for every hair on our heads. Yet He entrusts the details of His design to man, to a rational being who, with the help of prudence, must play his part in bringing all creation to the fulfillment of the whole plan intended by God. With this aim God prepared man for the role of His co-worker, endowing him with a rational will able to recognize and carry out God's intentions.

Now think about some of your "greatest" accomplishments. Can any compare with playing a "part in bringing all creation to the fulfillment of the whole plan intended by God"? Of course not. So the only thing holding you back from rejoicing at this marvelous news may be your ego, your need to be recognized, stroked, admired, etc. Well, guess what? You need to get over it. (And I say this in all humility as one who keeps having to constantly close the door on "Ego" before it sticks its foot in the door and accesses my soul.)

With all that in mind, why not re-read the Cardinal's remarks. Let his words in to your now open mind. You may find yourself thanking this great Catholic prelate as I did after reading this truly Good News.

More next time...