A friend in an 'emo-mood' messaged us, "What's the meaning of this routine? Go to office-go back home and every day is the same. On the judgment day, will it be only a say, 'Oh Lord, I have earned money in my whole life through my work' ."
Perhaps it was God's plan that on that day, my circle topic was on the First Christians. Joyce reminded me that the First Christians were indeed ordinary people like us. They were fishermen!! Suddenly all the formation sessions came to my mind: how work is an opportunity to grow in virtues (e.g., perseverance, patience, etc.), how work is an opportunity to do apostolate (how can we be a good example of Christians if we are careless in our work?), and how we can glorify God through our work, and so on and so forth. However, one thing I can't explain to my friend is the concept of "sanctification of work."
We as Catholics believe that we can 'sanctify' our work. We can offer them up to Our Lord and it can also be a mean to reach Heaven (well, if your work is an avenue to grow in virtues and handle your defects with God's grace, then it is also a mean to help you grow in holiness). Nevertheless, some people think that once you are baptized, you are confirmed that you'll reach Heaven immediately. Some people do not have the concept of Purgatory and do not have the idea of offering the suffering as penance and repentance to shorten your time at Purgatory and reach Heaven faster. Just for a clarification, Catholics also believe that good work is fruit of faith and God's grace. We can't deny the importance of God's grace that enables us to do the 'work'. (That's why we have our multivitamin called "Sacraments" - special channel of grace)
"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,' but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, "You have faith and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble."
James 2:14-19
How beautiful it is to learn that our work here on earth is indeed related to God's plan for us to be holy.
How beautiful it is to learn that our suffering in work (those unending works, annoying friend) can be united with Christ's suffering and can be offered up anytime to Our Lord.
How beautiful it is to remember that work is a mean to glorify Our Lord.
Have a nice weekend!!! ^^
Perhaps it was God's plan that on that day, my circle topic was on the First Christians. Joyce reminded me that the First Christians were indeed ordinary people like us. They were fishermen!! Suddenly all the formation sessions came to my mind: how work is an opportunity to grow in virtues (e.g., perseverance, patience, etc.), how work is an opportunity to do apostolate (how can we be a good example of Christians if we are careless in our work?), and how we can glorify God through our work, and so on and so forth. However, one thing I can't explain to my friend is the concept of "sanctification of work."
We as Catholics believe that we can 'sanctify' our work. We can offer them up to Our Lord and it can also be a mean to reach Heaven (well, if your work is an avenue to grow in virtues and handle your defects with God's grace, then it is also a mean to help you grow in holiness). Nevertheless, some people think that once you are baptized, you are confirmed that you'll reach Heaven immediately. Some people do not have the concept of Purgatory and do not have the idea of offering the suffering as penance and repentance to shorten your time at Purgatory and reach Heaven faster. Just for a clarification, Catholics also believe that good work is fruit of faith and God's grace. We can't deny the importance of God's grace that enables us to do the 'work'. (That's why we have our multivitamin called "Sacraments" - special channel of grace)
"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,' but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, "You have faith and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble."
James 2:14-19
How beautiful it is to learn that our work here on earth is indeed related to God's plan for us to be holy.
How beautiful it is to learn that our suffering in work (those unending works, annoying friend) can be united with Christ's suffering and can be offered up anytime to Our Lord.
How beautiful it is to remember that work is a mean to glorify Our Lord.
Have a nice weekend!!! ^^
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