The First Full Week of Lent at Work Has Begun: Something Different
Do you want to "make a difference"? We hear this all the time, don't we? Young people are exhorted to "make a difference." Many of us at work would like to "make a difference" in our chosen careers. It all sounds fine, as long as by "difference" you mean you want to do something that's ultimately good. After all - think about it - Hitler, Stalin, and Mao made a huge difference during their lives.
In any case, we've all got a chance now to make a difference - in the good sense - at work. We're into our first full week of Lent at work. So what will it be: business as usual, or, well, something "different"? Have you "prepared" your workplace, your work time (and your home) for Lent? If not, get on it. (HERE for some suggestions.) If so, then you're about to make a difference at work. Observing Lent in whatever manner that makes sense for you in your current situation will make a difference not only for your spiritual life, but in the lives of everyone you touch throughout the day. It will likely make a difference in the quality of work you do.
So Lent arrives and brings with it "something different."
To help sustain our Lenten discipline at work, we continue our journey with Our Lord during Lent, posting the Stations of the Cross, one at a time, using St. Alphonsus Liguori as our guide. (Click HERE for a complete pdf of St. Alphonsus's version of the Stations of the Cross.)
Station 3: Jesus Falls the First Time
St. Alphonsus writes:
Consider this first fall of Jesus under His Cross. His flesh was torn by the scourges, His head crowned with thorns, and He had lost a great quantity of blood. He was so weakened that he could scarcely walk, and yet he had to carry this great load upon His shoulders. The soldiers struck Him rudely, and thus He fell several times in His journey.
My beloved Jesus, it is not the weight of the Cross, but my sins, which have made Thee suffer so much pain. Ah, by the merits of this first fall, deliver me from the misfortune of falling into mortal sin. I love Thee, O my Jesus, with my whole heart; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to separate myself from Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Relating this to our work day:
In conjunction with St. Alphonsus's remarks, let's recall the role our sins played in inflicting unfathomable suffering on the Son of God, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It was the unbearable weight of our sins more than the weight of the Cross that caused Him to fall. How sorry should we be; how desirous to show our sorrow through acts of penance. In that spirit, let's make a special, penitential effort at work today. No matter how tedious or difficult, let's assure the quality and timely completion of all our tasks, without procrastination or complaint. This alone could be tough enough for many of us. But add to this now, in that same penitential spirit, a determination to treat all with whom we come in contact with charity. And, yes, that includes bosses, co-workers, even customers who, frankly, get on our nerves, even say and do things that hurt us or harm us in some way. Rather than react to them, pray for these people. If possible, try to go the extra mile and speak to them without rancor or annoyance. If that's asking too much, be certain to avoid critical or complaining remarks about them.
We conclude today's thoughts with the simple, moving exhortation with which St. Alphonsus Liguori approaches each Station of the Cross:
In any case, we've all got a chance now to make a difference - in the good sense - at work. We're into our first full week of Lent at work. So what will it be: business as usual, or, well, something "different"? Have you "prepared" your workplace, your work time (and your home) for Lent? If not, get on it. (HERE for some suggestions.) If so, then you're about to make a difference at work. Observing Lent in whatever manner that makes sense for you in your current situation will make a difference not only for your spiritual life, but in the lives of everyone you touch throughout the day. It will likely make a difference in the quality of work you do.
So Lent arrives and brings with it "something different."
To help sustain our Lenten discipline at work, we continue our journey with Our Lord during Lent, posting the Stations of the Cross, one at a time, using St. Alphonsus Liguori as our guide. (Click HERE for a complete pdf of St. Alphonsus's version of the Stations of the Cross.)
Station 3: Jesus Falls the First Time
St. Alphonsus writes:
Consider this first fall of Jesus under His Cross. His flesh was torn by the scourges, His head crowned with thorns, and He had lost a great quantity of blood. He was so weakened that he could scarcely walk, and yet he had to carry this great load upon His shoulders. The soldiers struck Him rudely, and thus He fell several times in His journey.
My beloved Jesus, it is not the weight of the Cross, but my sins, which have made Thee suffer so much pain. Ah, by the merits of this first fall, deliver me from the misfortune of falling into mortal sin. I love Thee, O my Jesus, with my whole heart; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to separate myself from Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Relating this to our work day:
In conjunction with St. Alphonsus's remarks, let's recall the role our sins played in inflicting unfathomable suffering on the Son of God, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It was the unbearable weight of our sins more than the weight of the Cross that caused Him to fall. How sorry should we be; how desirous to show our sorrow through acts of penance. In that spirit, let's make a special, penitential effort at work today. No matter how tedious or difficult, let's assure the quality and timely completion of all our tasks, without procrastination or complaint. This alone could be tough enough for many of us. But add to this now, in that same penitential spirit, a determination to treat all with whom we come in contact with charity. And, yes, that includes bosses, co-workers, even customers who, frankly, get on our nerves, even say and do things that hurt us or harm us in some way. Rather than react to them, pray for these people. If possible, try to go the extra mile and speak to them without rancor or annoyance. If that's asking too much, be certain to avoid critical or complaining remarks about them.
We conclude today's thoughts with the simple, moving exhortation with which St. Alphonsus Liguori approaches each Station of the Cross:
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou has redeemed the world.
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