A Third Sunday of Lent Thought About a Wise Employer and Employee
For this 3rd Sunday of Lent, let's look at what makes a wise employer and a wise employee. In true Lenten spirit, we consider this from the point of view of the spiritual discipline we pursue in our prayer, penance, and almsgiving. One of the purposes of our special spiritual muscle-building is to quell, control, maybe even defeat a vice or vices that plague us. We've all got 'em.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could eliminate them all during what remains of Lent?
It's a solid, hopeful thought. But let's face it: We're likely not going to come out of Lent "cured" of all that ails us. It just doesn't work that way. But that's OK. If our efforts strengthen the habit of persistence in attacking a fault, we'll be far better off than we were when Lent began.
Father Lekeux provides us with some tips here. And his advice leads to a little story that never ceases to inspire me:
“No vice is so tenacious as to resist the persevering efforts of a good will. But effort and perseverance are necessary. A fault is not uprooted in a week, nor in a month. Moreover, there’s no rush. You have your whole life for that. You were too hasty in saying that you would never succeed. Do you want to know why you haven’t succeeded? Because you haven’t tried. ‘But I did!’ you object. ‘Over and over again. To me it seems the more I try the worse I get. I watch myself all day long. I slave. I struggle against my faults. At night I think I have made some improvement. But when I wake up the next morning, I feel that they have grown again during the night and that I will have to start all over again. Or, it might be something like this. For a month I plod along. I advance slightly. Temptation comes, I slip back, and there they are, those cursed faults, stronger than ever. There’s the proof. Why go on?’ Little man of even less faith, listen to this parable.
“A man was looking for a servant who would be a good and trustworthy worker. Such people are hard to find these days. An applicant arrived. ‘My friend,’ said the master, ‘your job is to clean up this cluttered yard.’ He worked hard and completed the task. While he slept, his employer had the debris brought back, and added a few extra pieces. Imagine the servant’s surprise when, come morning, he saw the yard. ‘Well, that’s a good one. I worked all day yesterday cleaning that yard, and now it has to be done all over again. What’s going on?’ He went and complained to the master, who said simply: ‘Do it again.’ He did, but he grumbled and was less ambitious than the day before. Yet, by nightfall he had once again cleared away a good part of the yard. That night, the same trick. When he saw this the second time, he cursed and threatened to quit. ‘Good, my lad, you may leave.’ Another applied for the job. He was given the same work, and on the first morning, faced the same sabotage. His reaction was just the opposite. He lit his pipe and started working, singing to himself. Next morning, when the same thing happened, he said: ‘I had a square meal. This is the boss’ business.’ So again he lit up his pipe and began working. The same smile, the same good humor, the same work continued throughout the week – doing over what was undone during the night. The master called him and said: ‘You have done well. I’ll hire you as my servant. I’ll increase your wages.’ He was a wise employer.” - Father Martial Lekeux, O.F.M
Both the employer and the employee prove to be wise men here.
For us Catholic men at work, whether employer or employee, we can learn from each. Let's pray for the grace to persist in our efforts to be holy.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could eliminate them all during what remains of Lent?
It's a solid, hopeful thought. But let's face it: We're likely not going to come out of Lent "cured" of all that ails us. It just doesn't work that way. But that's OK. If our efforts strengthen the habit of persistence in attacking a fault, we'll be far better off than we were when Lent began.
Father Lekeux provides us with some tips here. And his advice leads to a little story that never ceases to inspire me:
“No vice is so tenacious as to resist the persevering efforts of a good will. But effort and perseverance are necessary. A fault is not uprooted in a week, nor in a month. Moreover, there’s no rush. You have your whole life for that. You were too hasty in saying that you would never succeed. Do you want to know why you haven’t succeeded? Because you haven’t tried. ‘But I did!’ you object. ‘Over and over again. To me it seems the more I try the worse I get. I watch myself all day long. I slave. I struggle against my faults. At night I think I have made some improvement. But when I wake up the next morning, I feel that they have grown again during the night and that I will have to start all over again. Or, it might be something like this. For a month I plod along. I advance slightly. Temptation comes, I slip back, and there they are, those cursed faults, stronger than ever. There’s the proof. Why go on?’ Little man of even less faith, listen to this parable.
“A man was looking for a servant who would be a good and trustworthy worker. Such people are hard to find these days. An applicant arrived. ‘My friend,’ said the master, ‘your job is to clean up this cluttered yard.’ He worked hard and completed the task. While he slept, his employer had the debris brought back, and added a few extra pieces. Imagine the servant’s surprise when, come morning, he saw the yard. ‘Well, that’s a good one. I worked all day yesterday cleaning that yard, and now it has to be done all over again. What’s going on?’ He went and complained to the master, who said simply: ‘Do it again.’ He did, but he grumbled and was less ambitious than the day before. Yet, by nightfall he had once again cleared away a good part of the yard. That night, the same trick. When he saw this the second time, he cursed and threatened to quit. ‘Good, my lad, you may leave.’ Another applied for the job. He was given the same work, and on the first morning, faced the same sabotage. His reaction was just the opposite. He lit his pipe and started working, singing to himself. Next morning, when the same thing happened, he said: ‘I had a square meal. This is the boss’ business.’ So again he lit up his pipe and began working. The same smile, the same good humor, the same work continued throughout the week – doing over what was undone during the night. The master called him and said: ‘You have done well. I’ll hire you as my servant. I’ll increase your wages.’ He was a wise employer.” - Father Martial Lekeux, O.F.M
Both the employer and the employee prove to be wise men here.
For us Catholic men at work, whether employer or employee, we can learn from each. Let's pray for the grace to persist in our efforts to be holy.
We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee,
Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
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