“Mary sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all preparations that had to be made.” Luke 10:39-40
How I miss this writing, as it has been far too long since I last posted, but writing is truly a joy for me. It’s the sitting for periods of time, long at times, sometimes a bit difficult. I’m a doer and enjoy keeping busy with beautiful things. All in all setting this aside had good reason. In the last year and a half, both our beautiful daughters were married to two amazing young men. For the showers and weddings the baking of hundreds of Italian cookies seemed endless, which I enjoy and all the while I was working full time and completing my Spiritual Director program. And recently I became a Nonna, how amazing and utterly beautiful beyond words, that our bundle of joy, brought with her love beyond love. One truly cannot imagine the love that makes a heart burst, when seen through the eyes of God’s love.
As I reflect back on it all I’m truly amazed at how smoothly and calmly the events unfolded. There were things that didn’t go as expected, but, we promised ourselves from the the beginning we would expect things to take a wrong turn, but we would try our best to fix it and journey on, because all that mattered was the love through it all. The petals of love like the soft, white petals on our hydrangea tree, laid gently before us, so purely, so perfectly. God beckoning us to come take an adventure of this new love. Love is the gift that is endless, if we dare to reach for it.
Far beyond our power or control, which I relinquished all to God, I sensed deeply a power of presence that carried us all through, with such peace and love. It was a love, peace and strength, far beyond what I could ever muster on my own. It was a deep seeded belief and realization that in all the moments and days that unfolded, God carries us through it all. He walks alongside us, and never abandons us. There is no storm or mountain that can ever hold us back from receiving God’s love, to live fully. How magnificent is the awareness, that God’s love permeates all understanding. It swirls and weaves throughout all the facets of thoughts and breaths we take and is before us and all around us, as the moments of time keep on. When weariness tried to take hold, scripture whispered in my soul, molding and shaping it, in whatever way needed, so that a soul can become perfected. God is master potter and wants to shape our lives so that all one can see, know and hear is Love. Love for God, self and others.
The scripture of Martha and Mary, is a beautiful passage to ponder on, and one can reflect on which persona they take on in your life. It can change or be constant, but ultimately, it is Mary that sits at the feet of Jesus, listening to his word and his love outpoured, that will have peace and joy in abundance. Martha is beautiful in doing and helping, and maybe she to is pondering Jesus while she works, but God calls each of us deeper and wants us to offer all we do to him and allow his word to mould and guide our souls. God desires us to live fully alive in Love. What an incredible way to life, fully in love.
In all our actions, do we pray through all the bits and feel in this perfect presence of God even while kneading bread dough. As we drive to a workplace that can make some anxious, are we filled with God’s presence knowing we’re never alone, and there is love waiting to happen in the day. When in company of another, do we listen deeply with our heart, and treasure it, as a precious experience, like a rare jewel sparkling before our eyes, for God to send a great message of love. A love that flows to and fro like a gentle breeze in the wave of a sea radiating beauty. As St. Ignatius said, “Do we see God in all things.”. How perfectly beautiful and mysterious all the moments might be, if we see them in the light of God’s magnanimous love in all things.
Peace,
Claudia
ournourishedsoul