Rising with Our Lord This Easter Season at Work With the Help of This Psalm - 8

We continue with our special meditation on Psalm 118 (Protestants have it as Psalm 119).Our hope is that we can refresh all we do for the greater glory of God.

Psalm 118 plunges us into "the law." Our minds and hearts reach out to God to seek to know His ways. From the law and our knowledge of God's way all of the good within us comes alive. Indeed, we come alive.

As we work our way through each section of this astounding psalm, we'll see how its words can help us in our work, to further hone our daily activities that they serve God even as we serve those to whom we owe an honest day's work.

It's the perfect way to pray and work (ora et labora) our way through this glorious Easter Season.

SAMECH

113 I have hated the unjust: and have loved thy law. 114 Thou art my helper and my protector: and in thy word I have greatly hoped. 115 Depart from me, ye malignant: and I will search the commandments of my God. 116 Uphold me according to thy word, and I shall live: and let me not be confounded in my expectation. 117 Help me, and I shall be saved: and I will meditate always on thy justifications. 118 Thou hast despised all them that fall off from thy judgments; for their thought is unjust. 119 I have accounted all the sinners of the earth prevaricators: therefore have I loved thy testimonies. 120 Pierce thou my flesh with thy fear: for I am afraid of thy judgments.

Our work must not promote what is unjust. Typically that isn't the case. If the business we own or work for simply provides a good product at a fair price, injustice doesn't come into the picture. In the case where this is not true - working at a facility that provide abortions as a clear albeit extreme example - we obviously ought not be working there.

But we may encounter individuals - colleagues, clients, customers - whose behaviors may be unjust either mostly or some of the time. Worse, some folks folks are outright "malignant" (having evil intent). What to do? Well, it can be dicey. But what we don't do is ignore such behavior. At the very least we pray for such folks. Perhaps, though, if our contact is of necessity close and constant, we need to migrate to another workplace or situation.

Or, we can provide good example and - who knows? - it may rub off. (Just don't hold your breath if it doesn't.)

Again, our constant attention to, meditation on, God's Commandments serves to keep our spiritual sense sharp. It gives us the grounding to follow God's Law even when those around us would try to take us down.

AIN

121 I have done judgment and justice: give me not up to them that slander me. 122 Uphold thy servant unto good: let not the proud calumniate me. 123 My eyes have fainted after thy salvation: and for the word of thy justice. 124 Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy: and teach me thy justifications. 125 I am thy servant: give me understanding that I may know thy testimonies. 126 It is time, O Lord, to do: they have dissipated thy law. 127 Therefore have I loved thy commandments above gold and the topaz. 128 Therefore was I directed to all thy commandments: I have hated all wicked ways.

If you've never faced situations at work where a co-worker has spread rumors about you, outright lied about you, you don't know what you've missed. Some folks just do this for no good reason; others may be jealous of your success or good standing in the company; others my simply be put off by someone whose bearing and demeanor indicate that they are good Christians. 

Whatever the reason, God's Law helps us to face such people without being sucked into their dark hole of evil. (And such behavior is evil.) 

Note well, too, that while we work for money - at minimum a just wage - our love of God's Law holds pride of place far above our desire to make more money or advance in our career.

We'll have more Psalm 118 next time...

 

Happy Easter!