Balancing Action and Contemplation

 

Martha and Mary

³⁸ Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

The world is full of Mary s and Marthas, and if we look into our own hearts we find them there too. We are attentive to the never-ending demands and needs of others be it a family member or the daily dose of phone calls or letters from "do-good" organizations looking for a donation.  How do we sift though all of this to find quiet time, Mary time", to be with Jesus and listen to him speak in the quiet of our hearts? Even when we do this, we find our minds racing about all the things we have to do he rest of the day. It seems we can never get that "quiet moment " of prayerful contemplation, but we can keep trying by focusing on a word or phrase, or even a favorite image and just resting with it.  The distractions melt away and we have that "Mary Moment"which  is so important if we are going to be effective in our "Martha Work". Lets give both "girls"a chance today!

Bro, Rene