Sanctifying

“Sanctifying one’s work is no fantastic dream…  I am overwhelmed with happiness when I think how true it is that while I am working at the lathe and singing - singing all the time, on the outside and on the inside - I can become a saint. How good God is!” (Saint Josemaria, “Furrow”, at 517).

Christ on the Mount of Olives (Leiden Collection)

What is my purpose?

I was speaking to my second son the other day and he told me that there was no point in attending school.  Now, this child has never liked attending school very much.  While he is a very good student, and has lots of friends, for whatever reason, he has hated the idea of going to school since his very first day.

And so, we have had conversations about how difficult it is for him to attend school for literal years of his life.  Every single Sunday night, that particular child will begin to fret about the fact that school is going ahead on the next day.  And he will most often ask me, “What is the point?”  of even attending school at all.  And – of course – there is great benefit to be gained from attending school each day, because there are benefits to be gained from a good education that shall make the future more enjoyable and easier for most people.

In other words – by giving up a bit of my time and effort now, I am effectively investing in the future and in this way, I can gain some advantages in the future.  Such advantages might be a better job and therefore income that would be otherwise possible.

And I have been thinking about that today as I have been thinking about the power of sanctifying work.

You see, most of us have been called to a lifetime of work rather than a lifetime of meditation and reflection.  Saint Josemaria argued that “sanctifying one’s work is no fantastic dream…  I am overwhelmed with happiness when I think how true it is that while I am working at the lathe and singing - singing all the time, on the outside and on the inside - I can become a saint. How good God is!” (Saint Josemaria, “Furrow”, at 517).

And this works in just the same way as it does when my son attends school even though it seems to be such a challenge and a struggle for him.

You see, just as my son attends school for a long-term benefit, which is the better job and income as a result of his better education, I can offer my work for my own sanctification.  I can place God at the centre of my life and hold Him there at all times.  And when He is there, I can stay focused on Him while I am living my life and this can cause me to work with Christ towards my own sanctification.

For it is perhaps my purpose in this world to be a sanctifying force in my own life.  For surely such a force will have a positive impact on the sanctification of others?

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.