“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.” (Lk 10: 41-42)
Mary and Martha are inside of every one of us. It is easier for us to think that prayer is “doing nothing” and action is something that we really “do.” Our Lord gives us Mary as an example as a person who “has chosen the better part.” This month we are especially invited to pray, together with Our Lady, on the Rosary, where action and contemplation are united, something for Mary and something for Martha at the same time.
“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Entrance Antiphon)
“‘Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?’” He answered, ‘The one who treated him with mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’” (Lk 10: 36-37)
“Justice” is an element of a civilization of death. On the other side, on the side of a civilization of life, we have “mercy.” Mercy is greater than “justice,” and gentleness and respect are two wings of mercy – the best things we can share with others.
“I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4: 6 – 7)
Our requests are known to God. He listens to our prayers and petitions. It is very beneficial when we pray with “no anxiety at all” and “with thanksgiving.” Our grateful hearts are especially pleasing to God. Such an attitude shows how close we are to Him, depend on Him and love Him.
“The Lord is good to those who hope in him, to the soul that seeks him.”
“Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Lk 10: 20)
Our final destination is in Heaven – not here, on earth. Even the greatest success here means nothing in comparison with the life in Heaven. Without that perspective of living with God for Heaven, we can be extremely busy but in reality we bear very little fruit. St. John of the Cross used to say: “a very little of this pure love is more precious in the sight of God and the soul, and of greater profit to the Church, even though the soul appears to be doing nothing, than all these other works together”. The saints in heaven can do more for us than they did when they were on earth.
“Francis, the man of God, left his home behind, abandoned his inheritance and became poor and penniless, but the Lord raised him up.” (Entrance Antiphon)
“Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” (Lk 10: 16)
Our dignity comes from Him—He created us, redeemed us and sanctified us. When Our Lord gives us His word and asks us to share it with others, it is not because we are important but because His word is important: “whoever listens to you listens to me.” And more than this—His word is a message from God the Father about His love for us.
“The designs of his Heart are from age to age, to rescue their souls from death and to keep them alive in famine.” (Entrance Antiphon)
“See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Be attentive to him and obey him. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority is within him.” (Ex 23: 20-21)
The Guardian Angels are our friends, protectors, guards, supporters and amazing gifts from God. They are always with us: when we sleep or work, when we travel or at home, and when we are alone or surrounded by a crowd. Their voices and advice sometimes are very subtle and delicate and sometimes very loud and strong. The more I am “attentive to him, and obey him,” the closer I am to God and “to the place He has prepared” for us.
“Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all for ever.” (Entrance Antiphon)
Angel of God,
my guardian dear,
To whom God’s love
commits me here,
Ever this day,
be at my side,
To light and guard,
Rule and guide. Amen.
“From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their (the angels’) watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life. Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united to God.”
– from the Catechism of the Catholic Church; 336.
“And another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.’” (Lk 9: 61)
“I will follow you, but…” happens so many times in our lives, too. Generally we do not look at “but” as an excuse, but as a reason for something equally important; important from our perspective. Probably our own reaction to somebody’s “but” directed to us will be negative; “but” like rejection to us. When we exchange “but” with “and,” we can check if it is really another step in the right direction or just a simple excuse. We will be able to follow Our Lord and do whatever is His will.
“I consider all things so much rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.” (Lk 9: 52 – 53)
We are invited to wait for Our Lord’s visit any time. The Bible says He will come like “thief” which was one of the favorite descriptions for Jesus for St. Therese of Lisieux; she called Jesus the “Divine Thief” and expected Him all the time. We know He will come. What we can do is “prepare for his reception there.” There are many obstacles, but we can find our own way to prepare for His coming.
“Blessed indeed is he who ponders the law of the Lord day and night: he will yield his fruit in due session.” (Entrance Antiphon)
“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (Jn 1: 51)
Our best friends, and a very special gift from God to protect us. One of the first prayers which my Mom taught me was to my Guardian Angel. We will celebrate their feast soon, too. Today we are thankful for the outstanding service of the Archangels: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Their identity is hidden in their names: Michael means “Who is like God?”, Gabriel means “God is my strength” and Raphael—“It is God who heals.” Different missions, the same service to God. Each of them has in their identity God as a reference point, everything in their lives is connected with God.
“Bless the Lord, all you his angels, mighty in power, fulfilling his word, and heeding his voice.” (Entrance Antiphon)
“If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also for those of others.” (Phil 2: 1 – 5)
Whenever I read this text, I think about my Community of consecrated people and married couples. There is only one vocation—to love—and two different ways to realize this vocation: consecration and marriage. We can listen to the same “encouragement in Christ” and think about my sister, my brother or my spouse. We can change our environment by these simple steps: “be of the same mind,” “united,” “humbly regarding others as more important…”
“All that you have done to us, O Lord, you have done with true judgment, for we have sinned against you and not obeyed your commandments. But give glory to your name and deal with us according to the bounty of your mercy.” (Entrance Antiphon)
