Faith, Spirit & Song

I offered a Mass of Thanksgiving today – my son had cleared his Grade 10 Board exams and the results were declared yesterday. I won’t say that he had ‘studied’ the way we expect students that age to study, but he had cleared the exams with whatever was his due.

So today is the first Friday of the Month, the first day of May, Labour day and also the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. I contemplated long and hard over the homily. It was uplifting yet reminded us for responsibility and accountability.

It was interesting to initiate the thought by realising that the Universe was created by the work of God – daily work followed by a day of rest. If we were to live God-like, then work is truly who we are and how we express ourselves. Work also, in the second definition Fr. Britto shared, is an opportunity to collaborate with God.

Both definitions got me thinking. Last week I attended a friend’s book launch. The book, ‘When the Ground Shifts.’ explores careers, transitions, and preparedness in times of uncertainty. An interesting observation during the panel discussion of the book launch was to stop identifying with the ‘role’ and instead focus on the doing and how we were evolving in the process.

Today’s homily brought a deeper meaning to that observation. How we work, how we invite Christian living, values and faith into our work and tasks expressed to the world the kind of people we were. It showcased our core – and the 3rd part of our vocation -the work of being Faithful!

During the week, I visited The Good Sam Foundation Wound Care & Rehabilitation centre run by my friend. The center caters to the poorest of the poor – survivors of the leprosy, spinal injury, and vascular disorder – where the staff not only care for their deep and horrifying wounds, but also offer them a sense of love, respect, dignity, care and family when their own have disowned, neglected and abandoned them. To do that work as an act of service, a humanitarian act towards people who have nothing to give in return, that is an expression in collaboration with God.

So I pause to think – How do I work? Whom do I work for? What joy and fullness of delivery do I share? I would like to think that I allow God to use me for His work – fully – and that He may guide me towards those tasks and opportunities where I may offer my talents for His Glory.

On the Anniversary of Pope Francis’ passing, I prayed – with the memory of my sorrow and at the same time with the love of seeking an intercession. My prayers still remained – to use me for His glory. That same week, I was rather upset at a situation that was developing – in a space where I had contributed considerably, but also had sensed some unease of late. Was I sensing insecurity or jealousy around me? Maybe so. But it was also making me wonder if there was a conscious effort to prevent me from succeeding. I felt an increasing effort to cloud over my accomplishments, or even my contributions.

That bothered me quite a bit. But yesterday, I remembered – it was just a glimmer of remembrance – could it be an answer to my prayers? Was I being guided & steered gently away from places where I was no longer needed as I was earlier? Was I being guided towards better tasks? Tasks towards God’s greater glory?

The thought comforted me. I know I had given above and beyond what was asked – and I gave it of my own accord. I was happy with my contribution – I had given my best. I had expressed myself with grace, professionalism and warmth. Now, I was more than willing to trust God to wherever I was to deliver in the future.

I work all the time – paid, probono, unpaid. As a mother, my work is never ending. Paid work aside, my children would be my greatest masterpieces, and God’s gently powerful hand is in every task I do. Just as St. Joseph worked to provide for the Holy Family, may we all be inspired to work with humility for the greater Glory of God.