Dear Parishioners,
Most of us are probably familiar with the two sisters Martha and Mary from
our reading of Sacred Scripture.
When Jesus visited them, Martha was busy about
the household tasks while Mary sat and listened to Jesus. When
Martha complained to Jesus that Mary was not helping her, Jesus replied that
“Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” (Luke 10:42)
Without realizing it, many of us probably go through something
similar in our lives. We experience the need to do things and
may put off or seriously neglect the need to sit quietly and reflect. I
think that there is a tension that often occurs between the need for contemplation in
a world so filled with action.
While sitting in front of the Blessed Sacrament when
I should be praying, I can find my mind drifting with various concerns and
things that have to be done: Why are there so few people during the
weekend Masses? The church roof still needs to be replaced. Will we have enough
income each week to pay the bills? The air conditioning didn’t seem cold enough
last weekend. I am supposed to be praying but these and other worries and
concerns still pop into my mind.
I am reminded from examples of the lives of saints like St. Pope John Paul II and St. (Mother) Teresa of
Calcutta that prayer needs to come first before any
action is ever carried out. Despite their unbelievable schedules and
workload, both of them were known to have spent hours each day in front of
the Blessed Sacrament. It was from their intense prayer life
and love of the Lord Jesus truly present
in the Blessed Sacrament that the fruit of their labor became so rich and
apparent to all.
For the past year or so I have been offering Mass for the Poor Clare Sisters in Chesterfield, NJ
(near Bordentown). They are a community of contemplative religious sisters who
live their vocations with much prayer and solitude. From a worldly or secular perspective,
some may not see their lives as productive or useful. However, it is contemplative
communities like theirs who are a source of spiritual power and strength for
the rest of us. They remind me to slow
down from the rapid pace and busyness to which we have become accustomed.
I find the Trappist monks,
where I usually make my annual retreat, to be the same. They are a community of
priests and brothers who live in prayerful solitude at the monastery. Their
prayer and work (ora et labora) illustrates
for me both Martha (work) and Mary (prayer or contemplation).
So don’t ever think that you are too busy to take
the time to pray and reflect. Find time to spend in front of the Blessed
Sacrament. Our chapel is open weekdays for prayer and adoration. We all
need quality time with the Lord and it is from the time with Him that
we will find the time and strength to do the other things that
we think so urgently need to get done.
The better option is spending time with Jesus.
Just ask Mary.
Fr. Ed
Namiotka
Pastor
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