Now It's Time to Hit the "Reset" Button
This week we continue to take a break from our exploration of Working Your Way into Heaven by Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski.
Last week's "refresh" button (HERE and HERE) was meant for those of us who are more or less on track in our work lives as Catholics. Sometimes, even when you're doing the things you ought to be doing, it's good to step back, take a deep breath, and look at things with a "refreshed" heart and mind. And so that's what we did.
This week, however, we're hitting the "re-set" button. If you use a computer all the time, you know that no matter how well maintained, every once in a while the darn thing freezes up or just acts strange. It's time to re-set. So for those of us who could use more of a whack on the side of the head rather than a freshening up, we'll kick things up a notch and re-set. And we've got the perfect guy to help us guys remember how to be good guys in all we do: St. Paul. He'll help re-set us by showing us just how we need to behave in the workplace.
St. Paul begins by telling us what we must not do beginning with an important clarification of the concept of "liberty." It has nothing to do with having some sort of "right" to do anything you want, as long as you don't hurt someone else.
By the way, if you happen to notice you're infected with more than one of these items, don't fret. Even serious, devoted Catholics, who pray and receive the sacraments regularly, slip and fall from time to time. Just read anything written by any of the saints, and you'll see how unworthy they considered themselves. They knew their own faults, by God's grace. And they weren't afraid to face them. The key here would be not to fear. Trust in God's mercy.
But just working on fixing what we do wrong is only half the battle. Next time, to help us really re-set, St. Paul will show us how to focus on what's right.
Last week's "refresh" button (HERE and HERE) was meant for those of us who are more or less on track in our work lives as Catholics. Sometimes, even when you're doing the things you ought to be doing, it's good to step back, take a deep breath, and look at things with a "refreshed" heart and mind. And so that's what we did.
This week, however, we're hitting the "re-set" button. If you use a computer all the time, you know that no matter how well maintained, every once in a while the darn thing freezes up or just acts strange. It's time to re-set. So for those of us who could use more of a whack on the side of the head rather than a freshening up, we'll kick things up a notch and re-set. And we've got the perfect guy to help us guys remember how to be good guys in all we do: St. Paul. He'll help re-set us by showing us just how we need to behave in the workplace.
St. Paul begins by telling us what we must not do beginning with an important clarification of the concept of "liberty." It has nothing to do with having some sort of "right" to do anything you want, as long as you don't hurt someone else.
For you, brethren have been called unto liberty: only make not liberty an occasion to the flesh, but by charity of the spirit serve one another. For all the law if fulfilled in one word: Thou shalt love they neighbour as thyself....I say then, walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit: and the spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary one to another; so that you do not the things that you would.As Americans, liberty sits at the foundation of our culture and our society. As Catholics, we understand that true liberty, as St. Paul explains, frees our hearts and minds from enslavement to the self. St. Paul suggests we begin to free ourselves by rejecting the "lusts of the flesh." He hits the nail on the head here. Those who can't control their sensual appetites have little hope of building and strengthening the virtues needed to develop their skills and talents in a manner pleasing to God. He then goes on to list the consequences that flow when we cannot control the lusts of the flesh:
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury, idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects, envies, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like...Some of these may jar your sensibilities (at least one hopes they do!). But if you find one or more of your faults in this list, join the club. Setting aside the obviously sinful items, let's remember that contentions, quarrels, dissensions, and envies, when allowed to become part and parcel of our daily thoughts, words, and deeds, easily become the occasion of sin. Envy can be especially insidious for many of us who see or perceive that others around us have become more successful than we might be. This can be a particularly powerful temptation when we work in a highly competitive environment. Envy can take hold when we work besides those who are more financially successful, those who appear to live happier lives, or even those who are more physically attractive.
By the way, if you happen to notice you're infected with more than one of these items, don't fret. Even serious, devoted Catholics, who pray and receive the sacraments regularly, slip and fall from time to time. Just read anything written by any of the saints, and you'll see how unworthy they considered themselves. They knew their own faults, by God's grace. And they weren't afraid to face them. The key here would be not to fear. Trust in God's mercy.
But just working on fixing what we do wrong is only half the battle. Next time, to help us really re-set, St. Paul will show us how to focus on what's right.
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