Word to the Wise
Friday, January 11, 2008 - Christmas Weekday
[1 John 5:5-13 and Luke 5:12-16]The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.
When the worldwide legislative assembly of the Dominican Friars, known as the General Chapter, met in Providence, Rhode Island, in 2001, one of the principal concerns addressed was that of the contemplative aspect of our lives as Dominicans. There was alarm that we have become so "active" in our ministry that we have forgotten the dimension of prayer and contemplation. In a letter some years earlier, the Master of the Order then, Fr. Damian Byrne, OP, noted the problem that we can get so involved in doing the work of the Lord that we ignore the Lord of the work! "Workaholism" is alive and well in our midst and we are not the only ones! When I give retreats for priests, one of the biggest problems that I hear about is the continual press of work that allows no time for contemplation or prayer or just reflection on the day's events. Some of this is brought on by the shortage of clergy, some of it (in some cases) by the job description assumed by the individual priest or by an inability to delegate tasks easily done by non-ordained persons and some of it by a lack of training and discipline in prayer. However, I find that my married friends also have the same problems. I hear the lethal comment: "My work is my prayer! I don't have time for anything else." Throughout the gospels, Jesus refers to his relationship with his Father as the source of his strength and determination. The gospel passage for today indicates that he was beginning to pay a price for his ministry in terms of the sheer numbers of people coming to him for help. Luke shows in several places that Jesus periodically withdrew to "a deserted place" to pray or be alone. On occasion he would have the apostles join him. Even then it was clear that what we call "burn out" was an occupational hazard of ministry. We know that this is not a problem to ministry alone. Other helping professionals experience the same problem. They are drawn to the profession because of the obvious ways in which they can help others. It seems a cruelty when that very profession becomes a danger to their own health and well-being. The incredible number of "self-help" books in bookstores are a testimony to the prevalence of the problem. For a Christian, and especially for Catholics, there is a wealth of resources for prayer and contemplation. But nothing replaces the disciplinary and ascetical decision that TIME for prayer and contemplation MUST be set aside and done so REGULARLY. The results will eventually manifest themselves in the life of faith as well as in physical and emotional peace. Although an annual "retreat" is a very good thing and I recommend it highly, I recommend even more strongly the daily practice. Jesus' example speaks eloquently. We "workaholics" had better listen more closely. AMEN
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