october 10 2006

Gal 1:13-24 Brothers and sisters: You heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it, and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my race, since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions. But when he, who from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace,was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me; rather, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days. But I did not see any other of the Apostles, only James the brother of the Lord. (As to what I am writing to you, behold, before God, I am not lying.) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown personally to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only kept hearing that “the one who once was persecuting us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” So they glorified God because of me.

Ps 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15
R. (24b) Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me; you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
My soul also you knew full well; nor was my frame unknown to you When I was made in secret,when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

Lk 10:38-42 Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply,“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

The story of Mary and Martha is one of two good friends of Jesus. When Martha complains to Jesus about Mary sitting at his feet as a student rathet than working doing chores, Jesus says the Mary has chosen the better part. Jesus in this story is in the role of Rabboni, teacher. It was not common at the time in the culture for a woman to be taught, but Jesus is counter cultural and is stating it is more important for a woman to be a student than to do housework. It is a message after my own heart. I am a perpetual student in life always finding interest in reward in studies.

In life studies and learning never end and this is true in learning about the faith and the Church also. Scriptural studies and reflections, the Word of God always reveals a new layer of meaning and significance each day. Each day is a day of conversion, formation and growth in the Lord.

A focus on tasks only as Martha was doing in the story, leads to being immersed in the details and the business and often missing the big picture of the meaning of what its happening. The Holy Spirit gives wisdom and knowledge but I need to open my heart and have time to receieve.