UPDATES

Her name Bonifacia, which means doer of good, encapsulates her mission in life – to do good for others, to do the will of God in the world she is in: the world of work.  Yes, she lived like any other worker... she lived with the worker... she lived by the ‘sweat of her brow’ as Jesus, Mary and Joseph did in Nazareth... she lived making the ordinary extra-ordinary.

Most would say, “I want it simple!” “I prefer what is simple!” However, most often than not, we find ourselves entangled in what we term as complicated. Even what we want for ourselves is not clear to most of us. Simplicity can be understood in hundred ways by different persons. What is simple to one can be complicated to another and vice versa.

How about this? Let’s make this reflection simple! We’ll focus on simplicity as referring to simplifying one’s life in order to focus on things that are more important to us as it speaks to our true self.   However, this can be taken subjectively as our preferences and norms could be dictated by external forces – we should be special, be ‘in’ and stand out! This is where things can be complicated for us and make us opt for things to cover ourselves up by having thick make-up, obsession on eccentric dresses, bags or electronic gadgets and the like. 

Bonifacia is offering something to consider as to what is simple. In her life, she radiated simplicity in her being and doing without guile.  As the daughter of the poor working world, she was never ashamed of it or belittled herself and anyone because of it.  She lived grateful for being a woman, a worker and a religious even amidst ridicule and alienation.

She lived simply with this utterance, “We have no other income than our work” This makes her near and accessible to all of us and to our experiences because she was simply who and what she was.  Her language and attitudes connected her with the world she was called to evangelize as she simply owned it as hers.  

Reflection:         If I look beyond the things that I have or what I can do, who simply am I?  What is it about me that I like most? Do I live my life according to the dictates of others or to the purpose of my life?

Meditation:

Adapted Prayer from Thomas Merton:
Lord, give me the strength that waits upon You in silence and peace. Give me humility in which alone is rest, and deliver me from pride which is the heaviest of burdens. Possess my whole heart and soul with the simplicity of love. Occupy my whole life with the one thought and the one desire of love that I may love not for the sake of merit, not for the sake of perfection, not for the sake of virtue, not for the sake of sanctity, but for you alone.

For there is only one thing that can satisfy love and reward it, and that is You alone, my God.