Martha nomine (Lk. 10:38)

 

During this COVID-19 pandemic, we still isolate ourselves at home to follow the health protocol of the government. We do not go outside but work from home. Rather than blaming and cursing this situation, we should light the candle and use the opportunity to make our life grow.

Today’s gospel talks about two figures, Martha and Mary, as a comparison of two kinds of human behavior. Each of them shows two values completing each other. Martha is a symbol of a person who likes working while Mary is a symbol of a person who prefers to pray.

Work and prayer must walk together in our daily life. Working without praying or praying without labor is fruitless. Therefore, Jesus asks us to get these two values and use them in our life. The grace of our Lord can help us if we accept it.

During this pandemic, let us welcome Jesus at home and in our hearts like Martha, then listen to Him like Mary. May God always dwell in our hearts and help to balance our work and prayer.

By Fr. Aris Mada, SVD

Propter iniquitates nostras (Is. 53:5)

This verse absolutely speaks to us personally and transforms our life. I made a lot of mistakes in my life to various people and hurt people around me including people who love me dearly and I don't think that I really regret it. I struggle with this because people always say to me; no problem, it's ok, no worries, it doesn't matter, or forget about it. I am guilty and I need to be punished from my all wrongdoings but I could not make it on my own. When I read this verse, I knew that there is someone who paid all those for me. Jesus has taken the penalty. He came into the world because He has great love and wants to suffer for me; to cleanse me from my sins and wrong deeds. He heals me. From His blood at the cross I could be saved, I could be healed and my sins and wrongdoings could be paid. We never graduate from learning the Bible but we can have more and more understanding about who Jesus is and what He has done to save us from our behaviors and sins.

Lord thank you for taking the penalty for my sins, so I can experience true life. Help me, Lord to live a worthy life because of Your sacrifice by honoring You. 

By Martha, Australia. 

Deus salutis meae (Is. 12:2)

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2 ESV

According to Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word for “Salvation” is ‘Yeshuwah’ (H3444) which means “deliverance”.

God is your deliverer no matter what storm you face; God can deliver you. There is nothing stronger and bigger than Him. No one can outrank Him. There is no bondage that He cannot set you free from. There is liberty in Him. There is complete deliverance in Him. No stronghold will overthrow Him. All principalities bow to His Name. At the Name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. 

Sickness, disease, and infirmity must flee. Every form of oppression and depression must go. At the name of Jesus Christ, every form of darkness has to flee. Nothing can stand in His way. There is no entanglement that He cannot break you free from. There is no emotional prison, financial struggle, the spiritual wilderness that He cannot set you free from. God breaks cycles and destroys generational curses. Every curse is broken by the blood of Jesus. 

When demons see the blood of Jesus Christ, there is no escape. His blood washes you. His blood covers you. His blood makes you complete. He is your Salvation. Jesus Christ is your Redeemer sin. 

By Martha, Brisbane.

Venite ad me (Mt. 11:28)

Christ is our example. God doesn’t give us an “out” in times of weariness and exhaustion. When He was cursed, He blessed. When needy crowds pressed in relentlessly, He made Himself available. When they were hungry, He fed them. When they needed correction, He lovingly but boldly gave it to them. When they hurt Him, He forgave them. When He needed sleep, He pressed on. When He suffered, He kept the eternal picture in mind. He kept you and me in mind.

Our burdens may feel anything but light today. God is not trying to make light of our circumstances. He wants us to see our circumstances through His light. We are not helpless or forgotten in our times of need. Jesus knows the number of hairs on your head. Why would He take such care to count them if they were not precious to Him? Don’t allow an hour to go by before taking your cares to Jesus. Because the Bible is our Daily Bread, we become malnourished spiritually if we neglect it. Spending time with the Lord refreshes our spirits and strengthens us to face both our trials and our triggers.

If we feel triggered by the weariness and exhaustion of our circumstances, we won’t be able to combat our anger and frustration until we lay our burden down at the feet of Jesus. Jesus asks us to learn from Him. To take note of how gentle and humble He is. In the same way that our angry reactions typically spark even bigger angry reactions in our friends, neighbors, spouses, parents, or maybe boss. Jesus’ gentle and humble spirit rubs off on us, producing a supernatural steadiness of heart and mind.

As we give our weariness to the Lord, His gentleness becomes our gentleness. His humility is reflected in our own. As we grow in character, exhaustion gives way to strength upon strength, equipping us with the ability to overcome the temptation to lash out in frustration.

The followers of Christ never have to operate on empty or be quick to anger. We are promised the fruit of supernatural strength and given an example in the person of Jesus Christ.

The heart filled with godly character has very little room for angry reactions. Let’s accept the invitation to “come” to the Lord and find rest for our souls by demonstrating gentleness and humility in our daily life.

By Martha, Brisbane.

Fidelis Dominus (2 Thes. 3:3)

Where have you seen God's faithfulness in your own life?  God's faithfulness can be vividly depicted in each of us in every stage of our lives. For example, for married people, it can be seen when their marriage is restored. For someone who decides to be a single, God's faithfulness may fill the void of her/his loneliness.  God's faithfulness may be delivering us from sins and kindly providing our needs. There are so many little or even big things that we can see God's faithfulness.

When I face a problem, sometimes, I feel that it is all about me and I start to blame myself. I can't see where God is and I feel alone. It is difficult to believe even a close friend but I finally realized that I am not alone. I have God who is closer than I know. I can tell all my feelings to Him. I learned from my loneliness that I should trust that God is faithful. I learned God's faithfulness when I had fallen and He cares enough to catch me.

If we found ourselves sometimes in a season of doubt, just remember about the story of Peter when he doubted Jesus. He had seen how faithful God was as written in the story that God immediately pulled Peter out the water and lifted him into the boat. We can always stand on God's faithfulness anytime in the situation we need Him.  So whatever we are facing, God is faithful today and forever.

Thank God for His faithfulness to me and please continue to strengthen me in Your presence.

By Martha, Brisbane.