Putting Our Best Foot Forward at Work During Lent
Personal appearance matters in the workplace. We're not just talking about how you dress, since that depends on the sort of work you do. More than your clothes, it's your demeanor, how you present yourself to your boss and your colleagues. Did you get a good night's sleep? How about breakfast - a little fuel to get the mind and body uncorked? Are you present in the workplace, ready to tackle the tasks of the day? Here's how we should all "appear" in our workplace each day: We're here to do our job, to do the best work we can to fulfill duties of our state of life, for the greater glory of God. This should "show" in our appearance. Recall the expression, "Put your best foot forward." The Lenten mortifications we practice today at work can not only bolster our spiritual lives, but also the self-discipline it takes to always put our best foot forward on the job.
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 6: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
St. Alphonsus writes:
Consider how the holy woman named Veronica, seeing Jesus so afflicted, and His face bathed in sweat and blood, presented Him with a towel, with which He wiped His adorable face, leaving on it the impression of His holy countenance.
My most beloved Jesus, Thy face was beautiful before, but in this journey it has lost all its beauty, and wounds and blood have disfigured it. Alas, my soul also was once beautiful, when it received Thy grace in Baptism; but I have disfigured it since by my sins; Thou alone, my Redeemer, canst restore it to its former beauty. Do this by Thy Passion, O Jesus. I repent of 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:
Our Lord first "appeared" in this world in a stable. Talk about a powerful presentation! His first appearance was a lesson in humility; and humility should permeate our every thought, word and deed throughout the day. Now, as He approaches the end of His life, He presents His Holy Face to us on Veronica's veil. St. Alphonsus describes that which was once beautiful as now disfigured, covered with wounds and blood. And he reminds us by whom and how that Holy Face was disfigured: by us when we commit sin. During our work day we have the opportunity to make reparation for what we have done to His Holy Face. We can suppress any tendency we might have to procrastination and laziness. Get on those tasks and get them done in a timely manner. We can treat those around us with consideration and kindness - even those difficult people who typically drive us crazy. In the midst of our work today, we might take a moment to think of the Face of Our Lord on Veronica's Veil. But even if we don't have that moment in the midst of a busy day, the diligence we put into our work and the charity we display in our thoughts, words, and actions through the day, done for His greater glory, will let Him know that we were thinking of Him, rather than ourselves. And if we can sprinkle in a mortification here and there, in true Lenten spirit, so much the better.
We conclude today's thoughts with the simple, moving exhortation with which St. Alphonsus Liguori approaches each Station of the Cross:
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 6: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
St. Alphonsus writes:
Consider how the holy woman named Veronica, seeing Jesus so afflicted, and His face bathed in sweat and blood, presented Him with a towel, with which He wiped His adorable face, leaving on it the impression of His holy countenance.
My most beloved Jesus, Thy face was beautiful before, but in this journey it has lost all its beauty, and wounds and blood have disfigured it. Alas, my soul also was once beautiful, when it received Thy grace in Baptism; but I have disfigured it since by my sins; Thou alone, my Redeemer, canst restore it to its former beauty. Do this by Thy Passion, O Jesus. I repent of 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:
Our Lord first "appeared" in this world in a stable. Talk about a powerful presentation! His first appearance was a lesson in humility; and humility should permeate our every thought, word and deed throughout the day. Now, as He approaches the end of His life, He presents His Holy Face to us on Veronica's veil. St. Alphonsus describes that which was once beautiful as now disfigured, covered with wounds and blood. And he reminds us by whom and how that Holy Face was disfigured: by us when we commit sin. During our work day we have the opportunity to make reparation for what we have done to His Holy Face. We can suppress any tendency we might have to procrastination and laziness. Get on those tasks and get them done in a timely manner. We can treat those around us with consideration and kindness - even those difficult people who typically drive us crazy. In the midst of our work today, we might take a moment to think of the Face of Our Lord on Veronica's Veil. But even if we don't have that moment in the midst of a busy day, the diligence we put into our work and the charity we display in our thoughts, words, and actions through the day, done for His greater glory, will let Him know that we were thinking of Him, rather than ourselves. And if we can sprinkle in a mortification here and there, in true Lenten spirit, so much the better.
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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