Father Anthony Mary MFVA Homily On Jesus, Work, And Prayer – Part 2 of 3

Editor’s Note:  Father’s Homily, edited version below, was delivered January 13, 2010 on EWTN [Eternal Word Television Network]

Part 2 — Managing Work The Way Jesus Did — With Prayer 

And, yet, if the true Savior of the Universe made time to Pray, then, we who are these mini-Redeemers in our own minds, or these little Saviors of our own Universe — if Jesus Christ Himself stopped to Pray to the Father, then there is no excuse for us. 

And, we recognize the lie and the trick of the Enemy that we always fall prey to.  He lures us into this idea, this notion without us realizing it, that we are our own little Gods.  A little God of our own World.  And, ultimately, we lose sight of our need for the True, One, Only, Living, God. 

In the Gospel today we heard the passage “Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he Prayed.” [Mark 1: 35  NAB – New American Bible]  He was not driven out of the house early in the morning because Saint Peter was complaining that his Mother-in-Law was healed. 

But, Jesus got up on His own and went out very early in the morning. 

They say this time was right at, at the time of dawn, right before dawn.  So dark.  And,  the sun is coming into the world. 

And, we’re encouraged in listening to that to try this in our own lives and to imitate the very practice of Jesus Himself. 

‘Tis the time when the whole world is quiet.  It’s before all of the activity begins.  It’s the first moment of the day.  So what do we give to the Lord but that which is first to acknowledge Him? 

But…..we are hesitant.  It sounds almost frightening or torturous rising very early before dawn.  Most of just cringe by the very sound – Early?  Before dawn?  You have got to be kidding! 

A number of years ago the Seminarians from – the Seminary in Denver – many of them are now Ordained, I believe, did make this CD to help promote St John Vianney’s Seminary there.  And, they had this beautiful music and they had the voices of the Seminarians intermingled with some of the music, giving their reflections on what it was like to be a Seminarian. 

And in one of them – it was like we were hearing it …… Eeeh, Eeeh, Eeeh, Eeeh.  And the other Seminarians kind of just go Oooooh.  You know.  And, then you can hear like the creaking of the floor, and…..just steps. 

If you’ve been in a Seminary you understand that sound.  Everybody moving.  Then one of the Seminarian’s comment: we are all on a little pilgrimage each morning as we step out of our rooms, walk down the hall to go and Pray together in the Chapel.  And, to offer praise to God. 

But they have one Seminarian [who makes] a little sarcastic comment.  He says “I offer 3 snoozes in the morning in honor of the Trinity.”  [Congregation laughter] 

You know, so everybody has their little techniques.  But, he spiritualized that.  It’s in honor of God. 

And, yet, the challenge for us today in just taking that one line from the Gospel “Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.” [Mark 1: 35  NAB] would be the challenge for us to put things aside earlier in the evening. 

Many times you hear Parents say – there’s nothing good that happens after dark.  When parents are telling their teenagers to be in before midnight — because after midnight there is nothing to do but get into trouble.  I think we can say that same thing to ourselves as adults. 

Most of us can’t even make it to midnight.  So, we can say – there’s nothing good that happens after 8:30 [pm]. 

You know –so, go to bed early. 

And, just limit yourselves [to a] half hour.  I’ll go to bed [a] half hour early tonight. 

So that I can offer at least 2 of those snoozes to the Lord in the morning.  I’ll take 1 snooze but the other 2…..

Most alarm clocks give you about a 9-minute snooze period.  So if you take 2 of those – that’s about 18 minutes.

Just get out of bed – give yourself 2-3 minutes to get yourself sort-of oriented – and you give the Lord 15 minutes. 

And, you’ve given Him these early minutes of the day – the first minutes of the day. 

And, so the question would be — Father, what am I supposed to do in that time? 

Don’t worry about what you’re supposed to do. 

The intention initially is – OK, I’m making this effort to give these minutes – these first moments of my day — to the Lord.  And, to just simply be with Him. 

My Grandfather – he was getting older.  My Sister and I were still small enough to stand in front of him and look at him in his La-z-Boy chair.  And, I think, we wondered what he did.  What does an old person do?

And he would look at us and he would say to us – “Sometimes I just sit and think.”  And, then, he said – “Sometimes I just sit.”  [Congregation laughter]

Part 1 — Why Work Blocks Jesus Out Of Our Lives

Part 3 — Reconnecting Jesus With Work – And, Finding Profound Meaning In It

 
Egbert F “Burt” Bhatty has worked 30 years as an Analyst at the American Embassy, New Delhi, and at British [Dunlop] and American [Chase Manhattan] multinationals.  He is a Certified Catechist.  Holds a 3-year [part time] Certificate in Foundations For Christian Ministry.

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