work-forlove.pdf

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WORKING FOR LOVE

“Work is born of love; it is a manifestation of love and is directed towards love.”1 On

reading these words of St. Josemaría, !estions ma" arise in o!r heart that lead to a sincere

dialog!e with #od$ Wh" do % work& 'o % work well& What am % tr"ing to achieve in m"

work& (hese !estions can hel) !s to remember that the aim of o!r life is not “to )rod!cethings” b!t to love #od. “*oliness does not consist in doing more diffic!lt things ever"

da", b!t in doing them ever" da" with greater love.”+

an" )eo)le work, and work a lot, b!t fail to sanctif" it. (he" make things, constr!ct

ob-ects, look for res!lts. (he" work o!t of a sense of d!t", or to earn mone", or driven b"ambition. Sometimes the" are s!ccessf!l; other times the" fail. (he" ma" find their work

interesting and eciting, or tedio!s and boring. (heir work ma" give rise to h!manf!lfilment, b!t also to concerns and worries. Some give in to activism, others to la/iness.Some work !ntil eha!stion; others tr" to avoid tiredness at all costs.

0ll these attit!des have one thing in common$ the" stem from a h!man nat!re wo!nded

b" the conse!ences of sin, with all its conflicts and conf!sions. %t is like a lab"rinth in

which )eo)le wander, as St. a!l sa"s, according to the flesh 2the “animalis homo”3,entra))ed and !nable to find the )ath to the tr!e meaning of freedom.

(his )ath can onl" be discovered b" raising o!r sights to contem)late life and work

with #od4s light, who sees from on high. “ost )eo)le,” St. Josemaría writes in The Way,

“have a )lane5like vision, st!ck to the earth, of two dimensions. When "o! live as!)ernat!ral life, #od will give "o! the third dimension$ height, and with it, )ers)ective,

weight and vol!me.”6

Work born of love

What then does it mean for the 7hristian that “work is born of love; it is a

manifestation of love and is directed towards love&”8 %n the first )lace, we need to haveclear what kind of love St. Josemaría is referring to. eo)le can have what is called a “love

of conc!)iscence” when the" love something to satisf" their own desires. %n the final

anal"sis, the work of a child of #od does not stem from this kind of love, even tho!gh he

or she ma" often work with great interest and enth!siasm.

7hristians sho!ld not work onl" or )rinci)all" when the" feel like it or when things aregoing well. (heir work stems from a higher kind of love$ the “love of benevolence,” which

directl" wills the good of another )erson 2benevolentia3, not one4s own advantage. %f the

1 Christ is Passing By, no.89

+ St. Josemaría, notes from his )reaching, cited b" :rnst !rkhart and Javier <o)e/, Vida cotidiana y

santidad en la enseñanza de san Josemaría, adrid +=16, vol. %%, ). +>?.

6 St. Josemaría ,The Way, no. +@>

8 St. Josemaría ,Christ is Passing By, no. 89

1



love of benevolence is m!t!al it is called “love of friendshi),” ? all the more so if one is

read", for friendshi)4s sake, to give not -!st some ob-ect, b!t oneself$ Greater love has no

man than this, that a man lay don his life for his friends.A

We can love #od with the love of s!)ernat!ral friendshi), beca!se he has made !s his

children; he wants !s to have reco!rse to him with filial tr!st, and to see others as his

children and o!r brothers and sisters. (his is the love to which the Bo!nder of O)!s 'eirefers when he writes that “work is born of love”; it is the love of the children of #od, as!)ernat!ral love for #od and for others for his sake$ God!s love has been "o#red into o#r

hearts thro#gh the $oly %"irit ho has been given to #s.@

(o want the good for someone doesn4t mean alwa"s tr"ing to )lease them. %t ma"

ha))en that what the" want is not for their own good, as is the case when mothers don4tgive their children ever"thing the" want beca!se it might do them harm. %n contrast, to

love #od means alwa"s wanting to do his will, beca!se #od4s will is the good.

7onse!entl", for a 7hristian, work is born of love for #od, since filial love leads !s to

want to do his will, and his will is that we work. 9 St. Josemaría !sed to sa" that for love of

#od he wanted to work like a donke", like a donke" at the water5wheel.>

0nd #od blessedhis generosit", )o!ring o!t ab!ndant graces that have given rise to co!ntless fr!its of

holiness all over the world.

%t is worthwhile asking o!rselves fre!entl"$ wh" do we work& %s it for love of #od orlove of self& We might come !) with other answers$ for eam)le, working o!t of necessit".

*owever, this wo!ld indicate that o!r eamination wasn4t going dee) eno!gh, beca!se

working o!t of necessit" is not the !ltimate answer.

We also have to no!rish o!rselves o!t of necessit", in order to live. !t what do welive for$ for the glor" of #od, as St. a!l ehorts !s,1= or for o!r own glor"& (his is also the

reason wh" we eat and wh" we work. (his is the f!ndamental !estion that goes right to

the heart of things. %f we eamine o!rselves sincerel", asking #od for light, we will cometo see clearl" what is the real motive behind o!r )rofessional efforts. 0nd #od will also

give !s the grace to )!rif" o!r heart and to "ield all the riches of love that he e)ects from

the talents he has given !s.

Work as an expression of love

0 7hristian4s work e)resses love, not onl" beca!se, as we have seen, love for #od

leads !s to work, b!t also beca!se it leads !s to work well, since that is what #od wishes.*!man work is tr!l" a )artici)ation in the work of creation,11 and #od, who created

ever"thing o!t of <ove, wants all his works to be )erfectC &ei "erfecta s#nt o"era1+ Cand

? 7f. St.(homas 0!inas, %#mma Theologiae, %%5%%, .+6, a.1, c

A Jn 1?$16@ 'om ?$?

9 7f. Gen +$1?; 6$+6; () A$6; * Thess 6$A51+

> 7f. St. Josemaría, The Way, no. >>9.

1= 7f. + Cor 1=$61

11 John a!l %%, :nc"clical <etter aborem -.ercens 218 Se)tember 1>913, +?; Catechism of the Catholic

Ch#rch, no. +8A=

1+ &e#t 6+$8 2Dg3. 7f. Gen 1$1=, 1+, 19, +1, +?, 61. 7f. Catechism of the Catholic Ch#rch, no. 6=+

+



he wants !s to imitate him in the wa" we work.

0 )erfect model for o!r work is 7hrist, who, as the #os)el tells !s, did all things ell .16

(hese words of )raise that welled !) s)ontaneo!sl" when )eo)le saw his miracles, worked b" virt!e of his 'ivinit", can also be a))lied to his toil in the worksho) at Ea/areth 2as St.

Josemaría does3, carried o!t thro!gh his *!manit". %t was a work done o!t of love for the

Bather and love for !s; and it e)ressed this love )recisel" thro!gh the )erfection withwhich it was done, not onl" technical )erfection b!t a dee) h!man )erfectionCthe )erfection of all the virt!es that love )!ts into effect in a f!ll and harmonio!s wa", giving

them an !nmistakable tone$ the -o"f!l tone of a loving heart eager to give itself totall".

O!r )rofessional work is able to be an e)ression of love for #od when it is well done.

(his doesn4t im)l" that it necessaril" has to t!rn o!t well, b!t rather that we tr" to do it aswell as )ossible, !sing all the means available in the given circ!mstances.

etween the toil of a )erson who works o!t of self5love, and that of the same )erson

who begins to work o!t of love for #od and for others beca!se of #od, there is as m!ch

difference as that between the sacrifice of 7ain and 0bel. 0bel strove to offer the best to

#od, and his offering was fo!nd acce)table. O!r <ord e)ects the same of !s.

“Bor a 7atholic work is not -!st a matter of f!lfilling a d!t"Cit is to love, to ecel

oneself gladl" in d!t" and in sacrifice.”18 “7arr" o!t "o!r work in the knowledge that #od

contem)lates it$ laborem man##m mear#m res"e.it &e#s 2Gen 61$8+3, #od regarded thework of m" hands. O!r work therefore has to be hol" and worth" of him$ not onl" finished

down to the last detail, b!t carried o!t with moral rectit!de, nobilit", lo"alt", -!stice.” 1?

(hen o!r )rofessional work will not onl" be !)right and hol" b!t will also be )ra"er aswell.1A

When a )erson works for love of #od, their )rofessional activit" reveals this love in

one wa" or another. 0 sim)le glance at different )eo)le doing the same activit" wo!ld

)robabl" not be s!fficient to gras) the motive for which it is being done. !t if one co!ldobserve with greater detail their overall attit!de to workCnot onl" the technical care, b!t

also h!man relations with other colleag!es at work, the s)irit of service, lo"alt" and

cheerf!lnessCit wo!ld be diffic!lt not to recognise an"one )ossessing the bon#s odorChristi,1@ the aroma of 7hrist4s love.

0t the end of time, Jes!s teaches, to men ill be in the field/ one is ta)en and one is

left0 To omen ill be grinding at the mill/ one is ta)en and one is left .19 (he" are doing

the same work, b!t not in the same wa"$ one is )leasing to #od and the other is not.

Eevertheless, the strong materialistic environment aro!nd !s can often make !s forgetthat we are called to share in eternal life, and we end !) thinking onl" abo!t immediate

sensible goods. (herefore St. Josemaría stressed$ “Work facing #od, witho!t seeking

h!man glor". Some )eo)le see in work a means for winning recognition, or for ac!iring

16 () @$6@

18 St. Josemaría, 1#rro, no. ?+@.

1? St. Josemaría, etter 1? October 1>89, no. +A, cited b" :rnst !rkhart and Javier <o)e/, Vida cotidiana y

santidad en la enseñanza de san Josemaría, adrid +=16, vol. %%%, ). 196.

1A 7f. St. Josemaría, 1riends of God , no. A?.

1@ * Cor +$1?

19 (t +8$8=581

6



)ower or wealth that gratifies their )ersonal ambition, or for feeling the )ride of their own

ca)acit" for work.”1>

%n this sort of climate, it will be hard not to notice a )erson who works for love of #od.*ow co!ld one fail to notice when -!stice is informed b" charit", rather than being merel"

a dr" and cold -!stice& Or when someone is striving for !)rightness before #od, rather

than a self5serving !)rightness before men, serving others o!t of love for #od, not self5interest&

%f one4s work fails to e)ress love for #od, )erha)s it is beca!se the fire of love is

!enched. %f the warmth isn4t noticed, if after a certain time of dail" interaction with one4s

)rofessional colleag!es the" cannot tell whether the" are dealing with a committed

7hristian or -!st a decent and reliable )erson, then )erha)s it is that the salt has becomeinsi)id.+= <ove for #od is contagio!s, seeking to share with others the greatest good

)ossible. %s m" work an e)ression of love for #od& (his !estion can give rise to

ab!ndant )ra"er.

Work directed towards loveWork, when carried o!t for love and with love, is work directed towards loveCto the

growth of love in the one who carries it o!t, to the growth of charit", which is the essence

of holiness, of the h!man and s!)ernat!ral )erfection of a son or da!ghter of #od. %t is a

work, therefore, which sanctifies !s.

Sanctif"ing oneself in work means allowing oneself to be sanctified b" the *ol" S)irit,s!bsistent intra5(rinitarian <ove, who dwells in the so!l in grace and inf!ses it with

charit". %t means coo)erating with him, )!tting into )ractice the love which he )o!rs into

o!r hearts as we f!lfil o!r tasks. %f we are docile to his action, if we do o!r work for love,

the araclete will sanctif" !s; he will increase o!r charit", o!r ca)acit" to love and to have

an ever dee)er and more contin!o!s contem)lative life.(he fact that work is directed towards love, and therefore to o!r sanctification, means

that it also )erfects !s$ it is directed to o!r identification with 7hrist, "erfect#s &e#s,

"erfect#s homo.+1 (o work for love of #od, and love of others for #od, re!ires )!ttinginto )ractice the other 7hristian virt!es. 0bove all, faith and ho)e, which charit"

)res!))oses and vivifies. 0nd also the h!man virt!es, thro!gh which charit" o)erates and

!nfolds, giving them sha)e. O!r )rofessional task has to be the arena here e e.ercisethe hole gam#t of h#man and s#"ernat#ral virt#es2 ind#strio#sness, order, good #se of

time, fortit#de to finish each tas) ell, care for small things3/ and so many small "oints

of service to the others, hich are manifestations of a sincere and refined charity .++ (he )ractice of the h!man virt!es is essential if we are to be contem)latives in the middle of

the world, and s)ecificall" to transform o!r )rofessional work into )ra"er and an offering )leasing to #od, a means and an occasion of contem)lative life.

St. Josemaría remarked on one occasion$ “% contem)late beca!se % work; and % work

1> St. Josemaría, etter 1? October 1>89, no. 19, cited b" :rnst !rkhart and Javier <o)e/, Vida cotidiana y

santidad en la enseñanza de san Josemaría, adrid +=16, vol. %%%, ). 1>658.

+= 7f. k ?$16

+1 0thanasian 7reed

++ isho) Javier :chevarría, astoral <etter, 8 J!l" +==+, no. 16.

8



beca!se % contem)late.”+6 <oving and knowing #odCcontem)lationCled him to work,

and th!s he said$ “% work beca!se % contem)late.” 0nd work in t!rn becomes a means of

sanctification and contem)lation$ “% contem)late beca!se % work.”

%t is like a circ!lar movementCfrom contem)lation to work, and from work to

contem)lationCfoc!sing more and more on its center, 7hrist, who draws !s to himself,

attracting all things along with !s, so that thro!gh him, with him, and in him, all honor andglor" is given to #od the Bather in the !nit" of the *ol" S)irit.+8

(he realit" that the work of #od4s children is directed towards love, and conse!entl"

that it sanctifies them, e)lains wh", from the )ers)ective of holiness 2which is what

matters in the end3, we cannot s)eak of )rofessions of greater or lesser im)ortance.

(he “dignit" of work is based on love.”+? “0ll work can have the same s!)ernat!ral!alit". (here are no great or mean tasks. 0ll are great if the" are done with love. (hose

which are considered great become small when the 7hristian meaning of life is lost sight

of.”+A

%f charit" is lacking, work loses its val!e before #od, no matter how o!tstanding it ma"a))ear to h!man e"es. 4f 4 #nderstand all mysteries and all )noledge3b#t have not love, 4 am nothing ,+@ writes St. a!l. What is tr!l" im)ortant is the “effort to divini/e h!man

thingsCbe the" great or small. Bor love gives a new dimension to ever"thing.” +9

J0 o"ez

+6 St. Josemaría, Eotes taken in a get5together, + Eovember 1>A8; cited b" :rnst !rkhart and Javier <o)e/,

Vida cotidiana y santidad en la enseñanza de san Josemaría, adrid +=16, vol. %%%, ). 1>@.

+8 'oman (issal , concl!sion of the :!charistic ra"er

+? Christ is Passing By, no. 89

+A Conversations, no. 1=>

+@ + Cor 16$+

+9 Christ is Passing By, no. A=

?

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