A Lenten Treasure Hunt: Sixth Clue

“If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze!” St. Catherine of Sienna

When I stood in front of the Basílica de la Sagrada Família (Sacred Family Basilica) in Barcelona, I knew that Antoni Gaudí, its architect, had to have been inspired by God. Aside from the obviousness of his genius, I felt sure that he had also been a man of great faith. I had read about and seen photos of the basilica before my visit, but nothing prepared me for the impact that this beautiful temple had on me. I was completely speechless.

The construction of the basilica began more than a century ago, in 1882, and is still under construction today. Gaudí worked on the project until his death in 1926. He died after getting hit by a trolley car in Barcelona, only a few weeks shy of his 74th birthday. Even though he probably expected to have a few more years to work on this project, he always knew that he would not live to see it finished. That did not deter Gaudí, though. After 1910, Gaudí abandoned nearly all other work to diligently focus on the Sagrada Familia, cloistering himself onsite and living in its workshop.

As I walked around the basilica admiring the three iconic facades representing the Glory, Nativity, and Passion of Jesus Christ, I could not help but think of the hundreds of artisans, builders, and laborers who gave, and are still giving, their talents to create this beautiful place of worship. Yes, Gaudí was the designer, but its creation is a concerted effort that has spanned more than five generations of workers with different strengths and abilities. Every single person, from the workers who excavated and carried the stones to those who prepared food for the laborers has played an important part in the construction of this beautiful basilica. Much of their work is hidden, yet each one had an essential role to play.

Gaudí and his entire team of laborers could never be labeled as sluggish. If they were, this project would have been abandoned a long time ago. But on the contrary, as a group, they have all been gifted with the virtue of diligence. It is diligence that has given them the fire to continue the effort that Gaudí began and the persistence to not give up until the project is completed. I cannot help but imagine an 80-year-old artisan at work on its beautiful columns, knowing that he may not live to see the project finished. Yet, he does not care because he has passed down his craft to his grandson, who now works with him on the project, and who will probably be around to celebrate the completion of the basilica.

Diligence is the capital virtue that counterbalances one of the seven deadly sins, sloth. It entails a zealous and careful attention to one's actions and work. Diligence is also defined as fortitude, which means never giving up. In order to attain the virtue of diligence, we must first discipline ourselves. This can be boring, exhausting, and difficult. And yet, the diligence we acquire through self-discipline is the sixth clue that will lead us to the treasure. With self-discipline, what we know in our heart that we are truly meant to accomplish can become a reality. This combination of discipline and diligence is what allowed Gaudí to dream of and create the Sagrada Familia Basílica.

Even though most of us have not been called to build a temple of the magnitude of the Sagrada Familia, each one of us is called to be a part in the building of God’s temple. The temple that Jesus is building on Earth is far more glorious than the Sagrada Familia basilica, and He has invited each one of us to work on this project with Him. We may not be an ordained minister or a gifted singer or a talented speaker, but we are all equally important. We all have an essential role in God’s intricate plan, even if, like the laborer who carries the stone, we may feel that we don’t have any talents. Our work may seem inconsequential, but “neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:7). God is asking us to play a part in building His temple here on earth.

The sixth set of words spoken from the Cross atone for the sin of sloth. When Jesus says, “It is finished” (John 19:30), He is referring to His mission here on earth. His death announces to the world that the work that His Father has given Him has been completed. Jesus is the best model we have for overcoming the sin of sloth. He was its antithesis, spending His whole life working. First, He worked as a carpenter to help His earthly father, and then, doing His heavenly Father’s work. As He tells His disciples “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). When Jesus speaks the sixth set of words from the Cross, He announces the end of His earthly life. His work is truly finished because He did it all for the honor and glory of God.

When I think of sloth, the first image that comes to mind is that of a cute, slow-moving, tree-hugger with a monkey face that dwells in the rainforests of Central and South America. They are mostly known for their slowness of movement and for spending most of their lives hanging upside down in trees. Sloths became popular when the Disney movie “Zootopia” was released in 2016, featuring the funny and charming Flash, the fastest sloth. Even though sloths in the animal kingdom are cute and funny, human sloths are not very amusing. The vision that comes to mind is that of a lazy couch potato. We need to get up from the couch and get moving. We are all born with a mission. It is our job to find out what that mission is before it’s too late. We have an obligation to honor and glorify God by completing our mission.

Just like Gaudí and all his laborers worked diligently on their project, even when they knew they would not see it completed, we must also keep on building the temple of God here on Earth. Whether our role is big or small, hidden or noticeable, we are essential to its construction. The Basílica de la Sagrada Familia is expected to be completed in 2026 to mark the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death. Thousands of laborers are diligently working to bring Gaudí’s dream to fruition. And even though Gaudí will not be physically present to celebrate, he will be smiling from Heaven because the fire that was lit within him a century and a half earlier is still burning bright in the world today. Christ Himself has hired us to diligently set the world on fire. So let’s get moving.