Work: A path to holiness
Recently I have been reading St. Josemaria Escriva's work, Friends of God. Friends of God is a compilation of 18 homilies given by the saint during different periods in his ministry of Opus Dei. The homilies cover a wide range of Christian topics such as, Freedom, Time, Human Virtues, Working for God, and humility. The wisdom and scope of these works are profound and applicable to all states of life especially for the lay state. In this blog I will focus exclusively on the homily titled, Working for God.
St. Escriva in this homily focuses on how work if properly perceived can be a way towards sanctification. He exhorts continuously for Christians to be the best in their respective states as he states,
"The work that we offer must be done as carefully as possible, even in its smallest details, for God will not accept shoddy workmanship. "Thou shalt not offer anything that is faulty because it would not be worthy of him." (p.82)
Escriva in the homily reflects on the biblical origin of work. He speaks about the the fall of Adam and Eve as being the beginning of the human work relationship. Despite the terrible consequences of their fall Escriva emphatically states that work should not be viewed as a punishment for original sin, it should be viewed instead as a way of participating in God's creation through applying our own creative wills through freedom as he says,
"Make no mistake about it. Man's duty to work is not the consequence of original sin, nor is it just a discovery of modern times. It is an indispensable means which God has entrusted to us here on this earth. It is meant to fill out our days and make us sharers in God's creative power. It enables us to earn our living and, at the same time, to reap "the fruits of eternal life" for man is born to work as the birds are born to fly." (p. 85)
Escriva in many ways is correcting the faulty perception that many people have that work is just a means to an end, an acceptable ill of adulthood. Work viewed from Escriva's lens is much more than ,"getting a paycheck", work becomes the arena in where the worker participates in the same creative capacity as God does when he creates. Work viewed this way becomes more exciting because through work one is imitating one of God's most unique attributes, of creativity. I realize that there are many jobs out there that are not exciting, and do not offer the worker the opportunity to create, to do something uplifting and transcendent. However, even in these perceived limiting occupations there is always the opportunity for the worker to give it his/her best, to stand out, to be better than the "average Joe." Escriva challenges workers to be industrious even in the most minuscule of details as he exclaims,
" All of us who are here engaged in a personal dialogue with Jesus have very definite occupations: doctors, lawyers, economists...Think for a moment about those of your colleagues who are outstanding for their professional prestige, their integrity or their spirit of service and self sacrifice. Isn't it true that they devote many hours of the day, and even the night, to their jobs? Isn't there anything we can learn from them?" (p. 90)
Unfortunately deservedly or undeservedly Christians have gotten the reputation of being shoddy in their occupations. Too many Christians (including myself) view work as a "means to an end" applying only halfheartedly to the responsibilities and demands of their professions. Christians of this mindset typically rationalize that as long as they are giving their all in ministry than it doesn't matter what they do in their professions. The tragedy of this mindset is that the proclaimed Christian is being closely monitored and scrutinized by their fellow coworkers. These co workers might correctly think, "What's the point of becoming a Christian if so and so is a mediocre worker? Christians need to view their work as a pulpit of evangelization. What this means is that Christians need to strive to be the best in any undertaking, but especially in their work. What kind of impression are we giving others if we are mediocre? Would any of us want to give their lives to a mediocre God?
I am a firm believer that one of the ways in which Christians will need to take back our society is culturally. We need to excel in everything, in the arts, in the sciences, in labor, in athletics, in academics, in trades, in politics. We need to be the best, Why? because our God does not want anything less from us. Consider the parable of the talents. (cf. Matt 25: 14-30) Jesus condemns the man not because he has failed in a particular undertaking, but because he was lazy, choosing to throw away his talent, daily I believe through the slow, subtle death of mediocrity.
The great news if we strive for excellence is that we will be successful, we will stand out, why? because we have the supernatural grace of God as Escriva reflects,
"And I think that if you and I really want to, we will work better than the best, because we will use all the honest human means as well as the supernatural ones which are required in order to offer our Lord a perfect job of work, finished like filigree and pleasing in every way." (p. 96)
This grace gives us the assurance that we will accomplish "greater works than these" (cf. John 5: 20) and stand out in earthly and heavenly ways. It is important to remember that we are in this world for a brief period in history. Living in the world although painful and difficult is the necessary pit stop we all must take en route hopefully to heaven. Life in its simplest essence becomes sanctified simply by the fact that it is the vehicle in which one merits heaven. Life viewed in this lens is a gift, an opportunity, to give of oneself, to serve, to stand out, to make each and every day a masterpiece, a worthwhile offering to God.
St. Escriva in this homily focuses on how work if properly perceived can be a way towards sanctification. He exhorts continuously for Christians to be the best in their respective states as he states,
"The work that we offer must be done as carefully as possible, even in its smallest details, for God will not accept shoddy workmanship. "Thou shalt not offer anything that is faulty because it would not be worthy of him." (p.82)
Escriva in the homily reflects on the biblical origin of work. He speaks about the the fall of Adam and Eve as being the beginning of the human work relationship. Despite the terrible consequences of their fall Escriva emphatically states that work should not be viewed as a punishment for original sin, it should be viewed instead as a way of participating in God's creation through applying our own creative wills through freedom as he says,
"Make no mistake about it. Man's duty to work is not the consequence of original sin, nor is it just a discovery of modern times. It is an indispensable means which God has entrusted to us here on this earth. It is meant to fill out our days and make us sharers in God's creative power. It enables us to earn our living and, at the same time, to reap "the fruits of eternal life" for man is born to work as the birds are born to fly." (p. 85)
Escriva in many ways is correcting the faulty perception that many people have that work is just a means to an end, an acceptable ill of adulthood. Work viewed from Escriva's lens is much more than ,"getting a paycheck", work becomes the arena in where the worker participates in the same creative capacity as God does when he creates. Work viewed this way becomes more exciting because through work one is imitating one of God's most unique attributes, of creativity. I realize that there are many jobs out there that are not exciting, and do not offer the worker the opportunity to create, to do something uplifting and transcendent. However, even in these perceived limiting occupations there is always the opportunity for the worker to give it his/her best, to stand out, to be better than the "average Joe." Escriva challenges workers to be industrious even in the most minuscule of details as he exclaims,
" All of us who are here engaged in a personal dialogue with Jesus have very definite occupations: doctors, lawyers, economists...Think for a moment about those of your colleagues who are outstanding for their professional prestige, their integrity or their spirit of service and self sacrifice. Isn't it true that they devote many hours of the day, and even the night, to their jobs? Isn't there anything we can learn from them?" (p. 90)
Unfortunately deservedly or undeservedly Christians have gotten the reputation of being shoddy in their occupations. Too many Christians (including myself) view work as a "means to an end" applying only halfheartedly to the responsibilities and demands of their professions. Christians of this mindset typically rationalize that as long as they are giving their all in ministry than it doesn't matter what they do in their professions. The tragedy of this mindset is that the proclaimed Christian is being closely monitored and scrutinized by their fellow coworkers. These co workers might correctly think, "What's the point of becoming a Christian if so and so is a mediocre worker? Christians need to view their work as a pulpit of evangelization. What this means is that Christians need to strive to be the best in any undertaking, but especially in their work. What kind of impression are we giving others if we are mediocre? Would any of us want to give their lives to a mediocre God?
I am a firm believer that one of the ways in which Christians will need to take back our society is culturally. We need to excel in everything, in the arts, in the sciences, in labor, in athletics, in academics, in trades, in politics. We need to be the best, Why? because our God does not want anything less from us. Consider the parable of the talents. (cf. Matt 25: 14-30) Jesus condemns the man not because he has failed in a particular undertaking, but because he was lazy, choosing to throw away his talent, daily I believe through the slow, subtle death of mediocrity.
The great news if we strive for excellence is that we will be successful, we will stand out, why? because we have the supernatural grace of God as Escriva reflects,
"And I think that if you and I really want to, we will work better than the best, because we will use all the honest human means as well as the supernatural ones which are required in order to offer our Lord a perfect job of work, finished like filigree and pleasing in every way." (p. 96)
This grace gives us the assurance that we will accomplish "greater works than these" (cf. John 5: 20) and stand out in earthly and heavenly ways. It is important to remember that we are in this world for a brief period in history. Living in the world although painful and difficult is the necessary pit stop we all must take en route hopefully to heaven. Life in its simplest essence becomes sanctified simply by the fact that it is the vehicle in which one merits heaven. Life viewed in this lens is a gift, an opportunity, to give of oneself, to serve, to stand out, to make each and every day a masterpiece, a worthwhile offering to God.
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