Dusting and Chopping in Prayer

~~~ Memorial of Saint Martha ~~~

~~~ 1 John 4:7-16 ~~~ Psalm 34 ~~~ Luke 10: 38-42 ~~~

We all know the familiar story of Martha and Mary...

one preferred using her time for prayer

the other, Martha, preferred honing her culinary skills.

Even though Martha got great satisfaction

 from preparing delicious meals,

she thought her sister, Mary, should be helping her.

She failed to see that her choices pertained to her, not to Mary.

She also failed to see that her time in the kitchen

 could also be considered prayer.

Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. 

Martha was worried about many things

causing her to miss her opportunity to pray as she prepared their meal.

Jesus says...

Mary has chosen the better part

and it will not be taken from her.

Mary has chosen the best part...

is it because of her position at the feet of Jesus

or is it because of the disposition of her soul?

Mary was open...listening to Jesus.

Martha was in the kitchen grumbling and complaining.

It is much harder to listen to Jesus when you 

are grumbling and complaining.

There is a time for balance in your life

 between spending time with Jesus in prayer 

and taking care of household chores such as meal preparation.

Both are important...

neither is better in extreme.

One may not take precedence over the other in most cases.

We cannot all be cloistered nuns or monks

dedicated to praying for hours upon hours.

Allow the Lord to bring greater balance into your life.

All that you do can be in the spirit of prayer.

Jesus speaks to you whether you are chopping onions, dusting, 

cleaning toilets or sitting at his feet in Adoration or Mass.

Blessings when you need to be 'Martha'

later you can also be 'Mary'.

~~~Peace~~~

Jesus Brings Balance

~~~ Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9 ~~~ Psalm 147 ~~~ Matthew 5:17-19 ~~~

“However, take care and be earnestly on your guard
not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen,
nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live,
but teach them to your children and to your children’s children.”

Jesus says he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it.
The laws of the Old Testament were not filled with spiritual life until Jesus came.
The laws were only the framework.
Jesus used this framework to bring all things to the fullness of life
through himself.
He is the way the truth and the life.

Jesus did not come to replace the laws and all they had taught.
In fact if we do not reflect on and appreciate the laws
then we cannot fully understand or appreciate
what Jesus brought to us.

It is something like studying the history of your country.
If you do not become familiar with the old laws and the old ways
you cannot appreciate the changes that have taken place.

Everywhere Jesus went his words and actions were raising the eyebrows
of the elders because they could only see the way things were.
They could only see how things had always been.
They could not see that perhaps there was something more...
something better...something more fulfilling.

Laws alone are cold stark impersonal...
Jesus was a warm, caring, compassionate person.
Jesus was personal.
Jesus dealt with the person he was near.
Jesus made adjustments to each situation.
Laws are rigid, but they serve a purpose.

Jesus brought balance into the world.
The law alone is lopsided...skewed.
We too need balance in our life.
It is possible to get so caught up in the rules and laws of the church
that one forgets to be in awe of the wonders of our God.
We tend to forget all that he has done for us
while we are being busy about keeping the letter of the law.

Jesus modeled for us in many situations the value of relationships.
Rules and laws can never replace the personal relationship
God wants us to have with him.

Most of all God wants us to realize how much he loves us.
This is what we need to be teaching our children...
We should be teaching them about God's love for them.
Take advantage of every opportunity to tell the children
 in your life how much Jesus loves them.

Jesus brought life into the dried lifeless laws.
He can bring life into your heart as well.
You are loved!

Live in Gratitude

~~~ Philippians 4:10-19 ~~~ Psalm 112 ~~~ Luke 16:9-15 ~~~

 

We should never under estimate the importance of gratitude.

Today Paul is expressing his heart felt gratitude to the Philippians.

Even when it seemed that they had forgotten his plight

he was grateful for their past support.

 

"...I rejoice greatly in the Lord
that now at last you revived your concern for me..."

 

Paul is able to see benefits and blessings no matter what his conditions.

If things are going well he is grateful.

If things are less than perfect he finds reason to be grateful.

 

 

 

"...My God will fully supply whatever you need,
in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

 

Paul reminds us that when we are generous with our possessions,

giving to the less fortunate, God will reward us.

The word of caution here is avoiding the temptation

to give simply in response to what you will gain in return.

 

Unselfish giving is the ideal goal...

giving out of love and compassion is the benchmark.

The Philippians certainly loved Paul and wanted

him to continue spreading the good news.

 

If your basic needs are supplied then you can focus

on the higher things in life.

Paul proves himself to be trustworthy in handling what he was given.

 

Jesus is addressing the Pharisees, who love their money.

They love the perceived status symbol from acquiring wealth.

Jesus is saying just because you may have some wealth

does not mean your spiritual state is comparable. 

"...No servant can serve two masters...."

 

Is is possible to concentrate all of your attention on creating wealth

and still maintain a profound relationship with God?

Jesus seems to be saying it is unlikely you can do both simultaneously.

"...You cannot serve God and mammon."

 

I believe the challenge is to keep yourself in balance.

Balance between wealth and God.

One does not have to be exclusive of the other.

We all have seem many examples of wealthy individuals

reaching out in compassion to those who are less fortunate.

"You justify yourselves in the sight of others,
but God knows your hearts..."

 

In all circumstances we should find reasons to be grateful.

Whether we are among the wealthy or not we have many reasons to be grateful,

if we but look for them.

As we approach our annual day of thanksgiving; begin

making a list today of reasons to live in gratitude.

Paul, himself serves as a model for how this can be done.

He words reveal where to begin,

"...I have the strength for everything

through him who empowers me."

 

Live in Gratitude and Be Blessed.