A Sunday Thought to Start the Week Off Right
Let's take a few moments this Sunday to reflect on how things went last week. Our objective here is twofold: 1) to remember how we did; 2) to help us do better next week.
If, like mine, your thoughts, words, and deeds over the last week were less than stellar, we can use this time to help us understand how we might improve things this coming week. A passage from the book, Mary and the Christian Life, that we've quoted in the past can help us here. The author Amy Welborn has been talking about the wedding feast at Cana, a story we should all know by heart. Focusing on the interaction between Mary and her Son Jesus, as Mary tells Him that they have run out of wine, she writes:
It might be startling to think back through our lives or even simply the past week and consider what our response has actually been to the Word. Have we even tried to listen as we’ve made our decisions about matters great and small? Or have other voices caught our ear first?
If we do discern what the Word is saying to us through our consciences, our prayer, and our reading of Scripture, do we follow Mary’s instruction and “do whatever he tells us”?
Or do we argue, rationalize, and sigh that we’ll get more serious about letting Christ live in us later, but right now we can’t, because there might be some sort of price to pay?
(A pdf of this wonderful little book is available HERE.)
These three short paragraphs pack a punch. They capture some of the themes that we've discussed over the years, beginning with the importance of working not only for the greater glory of God, but to be conscious of His Presence throughout our work day. We Catholic men raise the practical nature of work to the supernatural by bringing God to our jobs each day. How many times have we discussed this. And yet how often do we really do this?
Speaking for myself, looking back on the past week, the answer is simple: not often enough. Even with the best intentions, after an early morning filled with prayer and study, there are too many days where my brief prayer before beginning work serves as my only real contact with God throughout the day. It's especially frustrating when I think of important decisions I've made without first "consulting" with Him.
Never mind the missed opportunities to also consult with St. Joseph, patron of all us workers, my guardian angel, who's always ready to "light and guard, to rule and guide," or our Blessed Mother, who would freely and gladly console and counsel if only I would run to her.
Will this week be different? That's what I'm hoping and praying. I hope I have the sense and presence of mind to ask Mary to help me hear. I pray I'll remember that it's through her that all God's graces come to us.
One thing we should all know with certainty: We need grace - grace we will receive through Mary if we beg her intercession - to assure that our thoughts, words, and actions all reflect our Holy Faith.
With the help of that grace, we can all remember that Our Lady, once she pointed out the fact of the lack of wine, defers to Our Lord. She tells the steward of the house to simply do what He says. That's it. And that's all any of us have to do this week.
If, like mine, your thoughts, words, and deeds over the last week were less than stellar, we can use this time to help us understand how we might improve things this coming week. A passage from the book, Mary and the Christian Life, that we've quoted in the past can help us here. The author Amy Welborn has been talking about the wedding feast at Cana, a story we should all know by heart. Focusing on the interaction between Mary and her Son Jesus, as Mary tells Him that they have run out of wine, she writes:
It might be startling to think back through our lives or even simply the past week and consider what our response has actually been to the Word. Have we even tried to listen as we’ve made our decisions about matters great and small? Or have other voices caught our ear first?
If we do discern what the Word is saying to us through our consciences, our prayer, and our reading of Scripture, do we follow Mary’s instruction and “do whatever he tells us”?
Or do we argue, rationalize, and sigh that we’ll get more serious about letting Christ live in us later, but right now we can’t, because there might be some sort of price to pay?
(A pdf of this wonderful little book is available HERE.)
These three short paragraphs pack a punch. They capture some of the themes that we've discussed over the years, beginning with the importance of working not only for the greater glory of God, but to be conscious of His Presence throughout our work day. We Catholic men raise the practical nature of work to the supernatural by bringing God to our jobs each day. How many times have we discussed this. And yet how often do we really do this?
Speaking for myself, looking back on the past week, the answer is simple: not often enough. Even with the best intentions, after an early morning filled with prayer and study, there are too many days where my brief prayer before beginning work serves as my only real contact with God throughout the day. It's especially frustrating when I think of important decisions I've made without first "consulting" with Him.
Never mind the missed opportunities to also consult with St. Joseph, patron of all us workers, my guardian angel, who's always ready to "light and guard, to rule and guide," or our Blessed Mother, who would freely and gladly console and counsel if only I would run to her.
Will this week be different? That's what I'm hoping and praying. I hope I have the sense and presence of mind to ask Mary to help me hear. I pray I'll remember that it's through her that all God's graces come to us.
One thing we should all know with certainty: We need grace - grace we will receive through Mary if we beg her intercession - to assure that our thoughts, words, and actions all reflect our Holy Faith.
With the help of that grace, we can all remember that Our Lady, once she pointed out the fact of the lack of wine, defers to Our Lord. She tells the steward of the house to simply do what He says. That's it. And that's all any of us have to do this week.
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