The First Full Week of Lent at Work: See the Difference Yet?
For Lent to make a difference in our lives, we have to do something different. We talked a bit about this last time. A few more thoughts now.
First, recall that we've got 40 days of Lent to work with. It's not quite a marathon, but it's not a sprint either. Let's call it, as they do in track and field, a middle distance. You need both speed and endurance here.
Why speed? Well, we're already a week into Lent. The gun went off on Ash Wednesday. If you're not out of your starting block yet, you've got ground to make up. Get going. Before long it will be two weeks, then three.
But don't run all out here. For example, consider the discipline of fasting. You need your strength and energy at work. You shouldn't be starving yourself. But you can cut out a treat here and there, maybe even reduce your intake at times. We've got a ways to go until Easter: Pace yourself. Be prudent.
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 4: Jesus Meets His Mother
St. Alphonsus writes:
Consider the meeting of the Son and the Mother, which took place on this journey. Jesus and Mary looked at each other, and their looks became as so many arrows to wound those hearts which loved each other so tenderly.
My most loving Jesus, by the sorrow Thou didst experience in this meeting, grant me the grace of a truly devoted love for Thy most holy Mother. And thou, my Queen, who wast overwhelmed with sorrow, obtain for me by thy intercession a continual and tender remembrance of the Passion of thy Son. I love Thee, Jesus my love; I repent of ever having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Relating this to our work day:
Last time we made some specific suggestions about how our Lenten discipline can help us make a difference in our workplace. Basically these boiled down to doing our best work no matter how difficult, tedious or distasteful the job; and being charitable to all with whom we come in contact, even those who annoy or cause trouble for us. Of course, that's easier said than done. Perhaps this powerful and moving image of Our Lord meeting His Mother can help here. No matter how busy the day, it doesn't take more than a few seconds to see and, yes, feel, the power of that encounter. Our Lord, in the midst of His dreadful suffering, was granted a brief encounter with that greatest source of understanding and consolation: His Mother. Much as this caused her inestimable suffering, you just know that she did her best to express her tender love for Her Son. And so, in the midst of our own difficulties, we can and should turn to her, our Blessed Mother with deep devotion. With her love and consolation we can surely persist in our struggle to keep up our Lenten discipline at work.
We conclude today's thoughts with the simple, moving exhortation with which St. Alphonsus Liguori approaches each Station of the Cross:
First, recall that we've got 40 days of Lent to work with. It's not quite a marathon, but it's not a sprint either. Let's call it, as they do in track and field, a middle distance. You need both speed and endurance here.
Why speed? Well, we're already a week into Lent. The gun went off on Ash Wednesday. If you're not out of your starting block yet, you've got ground to make up. Get going. Before long it will be two weeks, then three.
But don't run all out here. For example, consider the discipline of fasting. You need your strength and energy at work. You shouldn't be starving yourself. But you can cut out a treat here and there, maybe even reduce your intake at times. We've got a ways to go until Easter: Pace yourself. Be prudent.
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 4: Jesus Meets His Mother
St. Alphonsus writes:
Consider the meeting of the Son and the Mother, which took place on this journey. Jesus and Mary looked at each other, and their looks became as so many arrows to wound those hearts which loved each other so tenderly.
My most loving Jesus, by the sorrow Thou didst experience in this meeting, grant me the grace of a truly devoted love for Thy most holy Mother. And thou, my Queen, who wast overwhelmed with sorrow, obtain for me by thy intercession a continual and tender remembrance of the Passion of thy Son. I love Thee, Jesus my love; I repent of ever having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Relating this to our work day:
Last time we made some specific suggestions about how our Lenten discipline can help us make a difference in our workplace. Basically these boiled down to doing our best work no matter how difficult, tedious or distasteful the job; and being charitable to all with whom we come in contact, even those who annoy or cause trouble for us. Of course, that's easier said than done. Perhaps this powerful and moving image of Our Lord meeting His Mother can help here. No matter how busy the day, it doesn't take more than a few seconds to see and, yes, feel, the power of that encounter. Our Lord, in the midst of His dreadful suffering, was granted a brief encounter with that greatest source of understanding and consolation: His Mother. Much as this caused her inestimable suffering, you just know that she did her best to express her tender love for Her Son. And so, in the midst of our own difficulties, we can and should turn to her, our Blessed Mother with deep devotion. With her love and consolation we can surely persist in our struggle to keep up our Lenten discipline at work.
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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