3rd Day - Novena to Ste. Marie Magdalene
Begin with the Opening Prayer from Day 1
Read from the Gospel of St. Luke 10:38-42
Meditation: (I decided to translate Frere Thomas' entire meditation. My paraphrase would not do it justice.)
"We often stereotype these two sisters: Martha, the active life; Mary, the contemplative life. It is difficult therefore, not to conlcude that the contemplative life is superior to the active life.
It seems rather that Christ's teaching is about the difference between 'many things' or 'one thing'. Martha is agitated, tense, and held captive by the many things - because of this she is divided, fragmented, and spread thin. Mary chose the 'one necessity': she is entirely at the feet of Christ, listening to the Word, returning to union with God. Martha is anxious, Mary is filled with the joyful blessing of 'those who hear the Word of God and put it into practice.' Luke 11:28
(I think the next paragraph is at the heart of this meditation.)
Being emptied of her demons is not enough: Mary must again be filled with the grace of God. Otherwise, the impure spirits will return to dwell there, they will find the empty place and 'there will be seven other spirits more evil than the first; they will enter and live there, and the new condition of the person will become worse than the first.' Luke 11:26."
(The following is my personal reflection on this day. Do your own meditation before reading mine.)
This is such a magnificent reflection on the choices made by the two sisters. Setting at odds the choices of each sister has always been problematic to me. How many times have I heard people say to me, "I don't need to go to confession, I haven't killed anyone"; as though this places us in right relationship with God. To say we have not chosen and committed serious sin does not mean we have in fact chosen God. Mary was freed of her demons. She must now choose to be united with the Lord. Too often I have heard colleagues say - and I am guilty of this too - "My work is my prayer". Frere Thomas is right. It is not action vs. contemplation. Rather it is the beatitude, 'Blessed are the single-hearted, they shall see God'. There is only one choice and that is to keep one's attention on union with God. When we can accomplish this then maybe it does not matter if we are a busy priest or parent, entrepreneur in the world, or cloistered in a convent. Being in union with God, at the feet of Jesus our Lord, hearing his teaching, convinced of his mercy, and trusting in the power of his resurrection - this allows us to put into perspective all the busyness that can leave us anxious and divided in spirit. This is what forms and shapes us as disciples. This is what transforms our daily work into life-giving union with God.
Will this be how I deal with things when this sabbatical is over?
Let's talk later.
Closing Prayer:
God, eternal and all-powerful,
you gave us in Ste. Marie Magdelene
an example of a profound hearer
and perfect acceptance of your word.
Grant us, through her prayer, that we ourselves
may become true disciples
of your Son, Jesus Christ.
He who reigns for ever and ever,
AMEN
