(Faith-lights for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
“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.” (Luke 10:42)
Reflecting on the gospel which is close to our hearts, to our being as followers-disciples of Jesus Master, we are invited and challenged to an honest and sincere examination of our consciousness in regard to our state, stance and disposition every time, every day when we go to prayer, whenever we go for our adoration before Jesus’ Presence in the Blessed Sacrament.
30 years as a professed, 10 years in formation and, the present ongoing formative journey, 40 privileged years of adoring, praying and kneeling before His very Presence, for the needs of humankind, for my own personal growth in holiness, that I may be gradually transformed into His likeness… in thoughts, words, actions, that is, in the totality of one’s being and bearing.
Such has been and still is a continuous struggle and challenge we daily find ourselves faced with: sometimes we fail, sometimes we overcome failures, and, it always feels good when we become a bit more like Him, like Jesus. That somehow, rather, yes, His grace poured in overflowing abundance, works in us!
Believe. Trust. Have faith.
The Lord Jesus once again invites, reminds, and challenges us to see how much present in our every day time for prayer and adoration are the persons of Martha and Mary.
How much do we have and bring with us the pre-occupied, busy and worried with work-responsibilities attitude and disposition of Martha? How far have we been like Mary who sits still, whose mind and heart are truly focused to listen, to simply be with the Lord?
The journeys of discipleship, of following Jesus may be long, tiring, tedious. But, consolations are always in abundance. The best consolation we can always hold and cling on to is Jesus’ words: I am with you always, yes, to the end of time. (Matthew 28:20)
We pray:
Help us, Lord Jesus, to still my thoughts, mind and heart every time, everyday we come to adore and kneel before you in prayer.
Help us to let go of all distractions (in thoughts, mind and heart) that we may truly be present to you.
Help us, please, to truly listen to your Word… and, grant us the grace to be able to see you, to perceive your Presence, to hear you speak: at prayer, in life’s seemingly daily routine, in everyone, in creation, in everything.
May we, and all peoples of goodwill, be blessed with and be given the grace to be “Like Mary who chose the better part” …until Christ is formed in me, in us.
Amen.
Deo Gratias!
Faith-Lights ... 