July 29, 2008
Memorial of
We recognize, O LORD, our wickedness, the guilt of our fathers; that we have sinned against you. For your name's sake spurn us not, disgrace not the throne of your glory; remember your covenant with us, and break it not. Jeremiah 14:20-21
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord.” John 11:25-27
Piety
Lord, in my journey, please give me the courage you have given to
Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/072908.shtml
The prophet asks the Lord to “remember your covenant with us.” Then, in the life of St. Martha, whom we remember today, we have a concrete reminder that the covenant is a two way street. Maybe in the Hebrew Bible, the people looked upon the Lord to provide them with food, safety, and protection. But in the Good News of the New Testament, we have to hold up our end of the covenant.
The life of St. Martha shows us two parts of our responsibility. In the alternate reading for today from Luke’s Gospel, Martha asks the Lord to have her sister help her “do the serving” as she has received Jesus in her home as a guest. However, rather than getting support for her position, Jesus instead tells her that Mary, her sister, has made the better choice. “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 10:41-42) We not only must encounter each other in service, but we can not be sidetracked from encountering the Lord.
This echoes what we learn in Matthew 12. When Jesus is preaching and is told that his mother and brothers are outside waiting to talk with him, Jesus teaches the crowd that the way to our kinship with the Lord is via listening to him and doing the will of the Father as Jesus teaches it. And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Matthew 12:49-50
Today’s other reading stresses what Martha teaches us about faith. When Jesus confronts her face to face and asks if she believes what he has been teaching, without hesitation, Martha answers, “Yes Lord.” Martha may have been distracted by the responsibility of hospitality and serving her guests in the story related by St. Luke. However, when we encounter her for the second time, in John’s Gospel, we see a changed woman, who is trying to show us the way to change by her living example.
Action
The National Cursillo Encounter begins later this week at the Catholic University of America. All Cursillistas are invited to Attend “Open Events” at the 2008 NATIONAL ENCOUNTER even if you are not registered to participate in the entire conference. If you are unable to attend the 2008 National Encounter but want to participate where possible, below are two events that are open to all Cursillistas, regardless of registration status. Those two events are:
Opening Session of the 18th National Encounter, Thursday, July 31, at 7:30 pm, Basilica of the National Shrine, Upper Church: imagine, Cursillistas illuminating the National Shrine by ourselves; imagine, joining hands and hearts with 650 Cursillistas across the US as lights for Christ; imagine, the Keynote Address, Christ is Our Light” by Bishop Gonzalez, prayer, song, Adoration, Benediction, Reconciliation…and lots of grace; imagine, missing this historic event by not attending! Don’t stay home this night, be blessed and a blessing!
Mass – Friday, August 1, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm,
Can you attend?
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