Teach Me to Labor
theophilus June 29th, 2009
I came across a prayer attributed to St. Ignatius a while back -
“Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as you deserve. To give and not count the cost. To fight and not heed the wounds. To toil and not seek for rest. To labor and not ask for reward, save for knowing that I am doing your will.”
I know someone who is trying to live the last phrase of that prayer – “To labor and not ask for reward, save for knowing that I am doing your will.”
He is doing something that will result in others gain, yet he will probably not be rewarded for it. He is doing something that will benefit many, yet his family questions his career path. There is always the question left unsaid, but always hanging in the air, as to whether he should be doing something more distinguished or of greater monetary worth.
Yet, he has confided in me that he truly believes that he is doing God’s will. He is exactly where God needs him. He is laboring for Christ.
I told him about St. Ignatius’ prayer because I realized he is trying to live it. He is trying so hard to keep from falling into the chasm of self-pity where he will crave reward for his labor. He is trying to satisfy himself with the reward of knowing that he is doing God’s will; he is serving Christ. I can tell that it is not easy.
And I reminded him that it doesn’t matter whether we measure up in someone else’s eyes; whether we are doing what others expect of us. What matters if whether we are doing what God wants us to do; whether we measure up to what Christ expects of us.
The saints lived the prayer of St. Ignatius; each and every phrase. We are called to do the same.
We all are called to be generous and serve and give and fight and toil and labor; but not to count the cost or heed the wounds or seek for rest or ask for reward. We are all called to just serve Christ and do God’s will. We are all called to be a saint.
