Professional burnout is something that we have grown more sensitive to, not only in the secular world but also within the church and within monasticism. Spending oneself in loving and self-giving service to others can be life-giving, but when imprudently done can also drain us and leave us empty, listless, and unable to function. And yet, weren’t some of the saints imprudent in seeming to burn themselves out in heroic self-sacrificing love. One thinks of saints like John Vianney who is reputed to have spent sixteen to eighteen hours a day listening to confessions, subsisting on little more than potatoes, and sleeping very little. So too in our own day someone like Pope Francis—despite his age—seems to be constantly spending himself and taking very little time to come away and rest a while.
And this is, of course, something of the mixed message that Jesus gives in today’s gospel: On the one hand he says to the apostles, come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while; and yet when the crowd arrives he feels pity for them and begins to teach them many things. Presumably, this would have involved the apostles too as their deserted place of rest was invaded by the crowd. So what are we to make of this ambiguity and what place do rest and personal time play in the life of the Christian? This is an especially pertinent question for present-day monks who, because of reduced numbers, often have to juggle several roles and responsibilities that encroach on what we like to call holy leisure.
In answer, there are probably three main factors to consider: The first is simple personality and psychological make-up. Whether it’s the extrovert versus the introvert traits (or other psychological strengths and vulnerabilities), it is a fact that we all have differing capacities and limitations. And so what constitutes a need to come away and rest a while will differ to some degree with each person. A second factor is more difficult to discern and concerns those instances when God is calling us to go the extra mile and extend ourselves when we perhaps feel already overextended. However, discernment is essential. Otherwise if overextending oneself is part of some personal agenda and not Spirit-inspired then sustaining grace and strength may not be provided and we’ll be on our own.
The third factor in assessing when we’re taking on too much is one that Saint Bernard warns against. Using the analogy of the reservoir versus the canal, he explains that rather than emptying ourselves in service to others (as does a canal) we need to be like reservoirs that are filled and overflow to others, giving without depriving ourselves. And so he warns, you squander and lose what is meant to be your own if, before you are totally permeated by the infusion of the Holy Spirit, you rashly proceed to pour out your unfulfilled self upon others. And this, perhaps, helps explain why people like him and John Vianney were able to spend themselves without destroying themselves: they were permeated by the infusion of the Spirit and were those overflowing reservoirs whose giving never left them bereft of the grace they so freely poured out on others.
And so seeking to accurately discern our valid need to come away and rest a while, is only possible with deep authentic self-knowledge. For it is through self-knowledge that we will be in touch with our natural inborn strengths and weaknesses. It is also through self-knowledge that we won’t confuse God’s call to go the extra mile with our own self-centered motivations for helping others. And it is only with humble honesty that we can discern whether we are that full and overflowing reservoir able to assist others without depleting our inner reserves and becoming another burnt out casualty on the spiritual highway of Christian service and ministry.
Ronald Dombroski says
What a wonderful homily on burn-out and/or going the extra mile. I have struggled with this conundrum over the years. Fr. Joseph gives some great guidelines. Discernment is so important…. I do like the image of the canal and reservoir to help with sorting out some of my motivations.
George Alexa says
What a timely sermon! In light of what I read here, I must start to pare down on my Church activities…I just find it hard to say no and the “holy leisure” is driving me to burnout.
Nicholas Pizzacalla BA LLB says
This is an excellent homily by Fr Joseph on professional burnout which is now part of our contemporary society in secular living as well as in the church and religious life. When one spends their time in loving and self giving service to others can be life giving but if we do it imprudently it can drain us,leave us empty and unable to function.However,one gives their humanity in service to others it is a “grey” area that one may consider being” imprudent” in service to others..Often times,it may appear that one is being imprudent but often times this is what is necessary in loving and self giving service to others..The particular situation may not allow one to be prudent while serving others .Moreover,in this contemporary secular,global society “competition” drives the market place..Often times one has to work 24/7 to compete in today’s society and it can eventually lead to professional/personal burnout where one is not able to function anymore and one is forced to be imprudent in order to survive…However,that is when it is time for us to turn to Jesus and as he said “come away by yourself to a deserted place and rest awhile…”In my personal experience,I left this secular professional ambitions because 1) I had to save my health and well being ,..2) This is now how Jesus wants us to live…I withdrew from professional ambitions and returned to closely living my Catholic faith with daily morning mass/rosary ,eucharistic adoration and daily lectio divina..I also retreated to a Trappist monastery and its peace,solitude,beauty and and prayer.I have now developed a beautiful peace that I never had before and it has lead me to discerning a vocation. I also can appreciate that we become like a “reservoir that needs to be filled and overflows to others!” However,we must be aware that “professional burnout” is a contemporary reality in our society and these are issues that have to be addressed and people have to learn how to take care of themselves and find a proper balance before “burnout” takes place….I have also seen it in the church,where priests had to leave the priesthood because they were “burnout’ because they didn’t have the help they needed in their ministry…They had no choice but to be” imprudent” and part of this is because today there is a shortage of vocations…We thank Fr Joseph for bringing this important matter to the forefront “burnout” which is a reality of today’s society…