Holy Monday reflection: Cleaning the heart at home and at work
This Holy Monday reflection starts in a quiet moment before work. I sat at the kitchen table in our home near Baton Rouge, coffee in hand, while my kids were getting ready for school. My wife was packing lunches. It felt like any other Monday. Busy. A little rushed. A little tired.
But Holy Week changes how I see even simple mornings.
As a husband, father, and personal injury lawyer serving families in East Baton Rouge Parish and Ascension Parish, I often move fast. There are calls to return, cases to review, and people who need help. Still, Holy Monday invites me to slow down and look at my heart.
It asks a simple question. What needs to be cleaned out.
What Holy Monday means in simple terms
In this Holy Monday reflection, I think about Jesus entering the temple and clearing it. He saw that something meant for God had been filled with distraction and misuse. So He acted.
At a basic level, Holy Monday is about cleaning. Not just cleaning a place, but cleaning the heart.
For me, that means asking where I have let noise, stress, or pride take over. It means noticing where I have not made space for God.
This is not about being perfect. It is about being honest.
Holy Monday reflection in family life
At home, faith has to be simple and real.
We try to pray together, even if it is short. Sometimes it is just grace before meals. Sometimes it is a quick prayer before bed when everyone is tired. At St. George Catholic Church, I am reminded that faith grows in small, steady ways.
Still, I fall short.
There are evenings when I am distracted. There are times when I choose my phone over a conversation. There are moments when I lose patience with my kids over something small.
Holy Monday reminds me to clear that out.
So I try again. I put the phone down. I listen more. I say I am sorry when I need to. I lead my family not by being perfect, but by returning to God again and again.
Holy Monday reflection in my work as a lawyer
My work as a personal injury lawyer is about helping people in hard moments. I meet families after accidents. I hear stories of pain, loss, and stress. It is serious work.
This Holy Monday reflection helps me see that my work is also part of my faith.
If my heart is cluttered with pride or impatience, I cannot serve well. If I rush through conversations, I miss what people really need.
So I try to approach each case with care. I remind myself that every client is a person, not just a file. I take time to explain things clearly. I try to be honest and fair.
Serving others through my work is one way I live out my faith in Baton Rouge and Gonzales. It is not separate from my faith. It is part of it.
A practical takeaway for everyday life
This Holy Monday reflection is not about doing something big. It is about small, clear steps.
Here are a few I try to follow:
Start the day with a short prayer, even just one minute.
Pause before reacting, especially with family.
Put away distractions during meals.
Be honest about mistakes and ask for forgiveness.
Offer your work to God, even in simple ways.
These are small habits. But over time, they clean the heart.
Holy Monday is a reminder that our lives can get cluttered. Work, stress, and daily tasks can fill every space if we let them.
But we are called to make room for God first.
As a father, that means leading my family with patience and humility. As a husband, it means loving my wife with attention and care. As a lawyer, it means serving others with honesty and purpose.
I will not do this perfectly. But I can return, again and again.
That is the work of Holy Monday.
Love God first.
Love your family well.
Serve others with purpose.
