“Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never forsake you or abandon you. Thus we may say with confidence: ‘The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’” (Heb 13: 5-6)
Our Lord’s protection and presence with us is unlimited: “I will never forsake or abandon you.” It is about all the aspects of our lives, including when we are afraid about our financial situation. When He is the center of our lives and when we pray to understand His will and to follow His commandments, He will take care of us. When we put our trust in money, not in Him, we could be in danger, especially because of “love of money.” So He reminds us: “be free from love of money… I will never forsake you.”
“Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart, and yield a harvest through perseverance.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“…with all your heart and with all your soul” (Dt 26:16).
No more, no less. All your heart. All your soul. It is a waste of time to do a thing from which your heart or soul are missing. How often do we have to work just for the salary, to have the money to cover our bills. So sad.
We are His children and if we have no chance to put all our heart into action – it is far below our dignity.
“Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect, says the Lord” (Mt 5:48) – Communion Antiphon
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.” (Mt 6:33)
It is not a deal, a business. It is a consequence. If we put our concern first to God and His kingdom, we will see the world from a different perspective. I stop seeing the things I MUST get – and begin to see the things that are important. God is so simple: He is love. And love is simple. So with Him also our needs become simpler, because we know what is essential. We become more free.
“Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age, says the Lord” (Mt 28:20) – Communion Antiphon
We wanted so much to write here yesterday that we all could become part of the World Congress of Families audience in Sydney via live broadcasting, but – unlike in Madrid last year – it is not possible this time. This morning Fr Jay was scheduled to give a talk during the session devoted to the family in the context of work. We hope to be able to hear his talk – “Work-Life Balance: Preserving Dignity, Protecting Family”- in post-conference materials.
Before we get the sign of life from our Fr Jay, whom we proudly count among the Invited Speakers, we would like to present you with some highlights from his talk – which may be important for us all in our thinking about work. And we attach a photo memorizing his preparations for the Congress.
“The need for purposeful activity was written in human heart by God, the first Creator and Artist, who rejoiced each time He looked at the effects of His work.”
“At work you may learn to cooperate, share responsibility, and handle conflict – and all those skills will become your personal asset outside work as well.”
“Sometimes it’s necessary to pose a simple question: “Do we really need this or that item?’ – and give an honest answer, instead of fostering the belief that ‘I have no choice but to slave away day and night at the cost of everything else in order to afford all that’.”
“When you don’t schedule taking care of your relationship into your weekly planner, your marriage will die, and it’s just a matter of time.”
“Someone else may replace you at work, but no one will replace you in taking care of your family’s needs. If you make them happy, you’ll be the happiest person in the world, too.”
He was a well clad, polite gentleman. He came into my office at the end of my duty on Saturday. He said that he’d locked his car keys in the car and that he had to go back to get the other set. And that he had some paint mixing facility and he would give the money back. Well, perhaps not on Saturday but surely on Monday. He’ll give back those 10 PLN that he needs. And he asked what he could give me as a collateral. Because he could gladly give me anything.
I’m talking to him, smiling to him and to myself. I’m telling him that I don’t need any collateral and that many people came here. Some didn’t have enough money to buy a ticket, some to buy medicines (the pharmacy is close at hand), some to buy bread in the nearby discount shop… And I smile again. And I’m giving him the 10 PLN because I remember a certain nun who is a streetworker. She says that we should watch out and not let ourselves be abused. It is clear. But she also said something that stuck in my memory: that in spite of all these things we should not kill those impulses of the heart.
It is so difficult today. If I suspect that someone’s lying then perhaps it’s better not to give. But I do not identify completely with the indifference and calculating that somebody’s cheating and lying. I want to see all the people who come to me. How should I help them? How can I preserve this creativity of charity that John Paul II called for so urgently?
How do you manage to do it?
Michał
