DO NOT BE SHY TO GIVE EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE

 

Mariam regarded her miniature library. In pride of place stood the Bible containing the luminous books of both Torah and New Testament. Shakepeare's 'Hamlet', works by Alfred, Lord Tennyson and Scott's 'Lady of the Lake' jostled for space on the shelves. Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales' and Austen's delightful 'Emma' stood quietly alongside Dickens' 'The Cricket on the Hearth.'. 

Rufinus' Ecclesiastical History lay open alongside writings of Ferdinand Christian Baur, Professor Peter Davidson, Clayton O' Neill and Agnes Sanford. 

Mariam was completing an assignment after long hours of study. She was tempted to complete her work in a scribbling style, due to feeling so very tired.

Rabbi Jesus encouraged her, "Do not fail at the last gate."

If followers of the Divine do not give excellence in the very small issues as well as the larger ones, they fail only themselves - and in turn Him Whose Service to whom they belong.

TASK OF HOLINESS REGARDING SIN

It was a quiet, grey day. Mariam had read the newspaper, and noted the number of murders, crimes, incidents of abuse.

Mariam said, "Sin ..."

Rabbi Jesus completed her sentence "... has reached epidemic proportions."

Every follower of the Divine has a task during life on earth. To bring peace to situations of conflict: to bring forgiveness to difficult situations. To bring holiness into a world struggling with sin. 

Christ has told us, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16.

Shine your light before everyone. Have confidence in your spiritual beauty. You are a spark of the Divine, made in the Image and Likeness of God. 

You have a prophetic voice of holiness within this world - use it for good.

SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE

 

Mariam knew someone who was deliberately breaking up another woman's marriage.

Rabbi Jesus told her, "She has no spiritual right."

Respect the bonds of others' marriages. Always.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

 

Mariam had grown spiritually over the decades.  She told the Rabbi, "How life with you has changed me."

Rabbi Jesus answered her, "You have burst your original boundaries. The snail no longer fits the shell."

Spiritual growth follows relationship with Christ as surely as day follows night.

HAPPINESS

 

Mariam had found happiness. Seated before a red candle which flickered glowing light, she listened to the tick of a clock. At prayer, she felt so happy.

Rabbi Jesus told her, "You have discovered that you do not find happiness in marriage, single life, religious life. It is within yourself that you discover it."

The benison of a pure heart and a forgiving spirit can bring both peace and joy. Close relationship with the Divine brings happiness in its train.

WE ARE ALL FAMILY

 

Someone who had a well-earned reputation for disliking Mariam asked her for assistance. Mariam was reluctant to get involved due to past hurt and her own current financial struggles. 

Rabbi Jesus told her, "She is still our sister in the greater scheme of things."

Always give whatever help possible in each particular circumstance.

ENWRAPPED BY GOD'S LOVE

 

Mariam was at prayer. She let the soft velvet of the evening-darkness of the chapel enwrap her with the warmth of God's Love.

She told Rabbi Jesus, "O, the comfort of Your house. The comfort of Your house. The comfort of You."

Why not allow yourself to be enwrapped in God's Love?

Prayer Chapel at https://churchinterfaith.blogspot.com/2020/04/come-to-me-all-you-who-are-weary-and.html

EMBRACE LIFE!

 

Mariam thought of those who reject laughter and humor. 

Rabbi Jesus remarked, "They do not accept the endearing little quirks of human life."

Embrace life!

THE SPEAR OF WORDS

 

Mariam asked the Rabbi, "How does one show aggression?"

Rabbi Jesus answered, "You can knowingly spear others with your words."

Thus causing an inner death.

DRIVEN AWAY

 

Mariam considered relationships in which an individual is driven away by the other's contempt, arrogance and unappreciativeness.

The one driven away has to rebuild life once more. Often  independence and new-found serenity are achieved. Thereafter, it may occur that the rejector attempts to re-enter the previous rejectee's life. The latter finds themself unable to afford the emotional cost of such a risk. 

Mariam asked the Rabbi, "What is the moral of the story?"

Rabbi Jesus answered, "The problem is once you go away, you might never return."

Consider carefully before emotionally driving away friends or family. They might take you at your word. And a relationship which may not seem precious today might prove at the last to have been indispensable indeed.

Cherish good relationships, and remember that "the family who prays together, stays together." [1]

[1] Quote from Father Patrick Peyton

 

DECLINATION OF CONFESSION

Mariam spoke to the Rabbi about someone who had declined to go to confession for many years. Now this individual was at the mercy of her tempestuous and often troubled emotions.

Mariam observed, "She would have benefited from ..."

Rabbi Jesus answered, "Calm and quiet reflection on her own actions."

Confession or spiritual counselling can bring much-needed peace.

Prayer Chapel of Repentance: 

https://eventslumiere.blogspot.com/2020/03/prayer-chapel-of-repentance.html

How to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour

https://eventslumiere.blogspot.com/2020/03/how-to-receive-jesus-christ-as-your.html

FAILURE TO PAY DEBTS

 

Mariam experienced individuals who consider that the world owes them a living and fail to pay their debts.

Rabbi Jesus answered, "This could be called the beggar-mentality."

The truly mature do not ask for assistance in cases where they should in decency and fairness be able to help themselves.

BUILD ON THE ROCK

Mariam argued a point with a peer. Subsequently her friend sulked.

Mariam told the Rabbi, "I do not think that I am too popular with her at the moment, Lord."

Rabbi Jesus answered, "Because you do not see her as the supreme oracle."

Let us look to God and the Bible for our greatest inspiration. To have a friend is a blessing. However, the counsel of our Greatest Friend Jesus is the Rock upon which our spiritual house will never founder. 

Jesus said: "Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord” and not do what I say?

‘Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and acts on them – I will show you what he is like. He is like the man who when he built his house dug, and dug deep, and laid the foundations on rock. When the river was in flood it bore down on that house but could not shake it, it was so well built. But the one who listens and does nothing is like the man who built his house on soil, with no foundations: as soon as the river bore down on it, it collapsed; and what a ruin that house became!’ (Luke 6:46-49)

SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENNA

 

Mariam read regarding Saint Catherine of Siena; "The result was that she ... now remained uninterruptedly within the walls of that inner cell of the heart which no-one could take from her." [1]

Mariam told the Rabbi, "Now my next task is to reflect on the presence of the private cell in my own heart."

Rabbi Jesus responded, "Reflect on the cathedral which is in your heart."

Much love increases our capacity for relationship with both humankind and the Divine.

Why not read about Saint Catherine of Siena?

[1] Patricia Mary Vinje. Raymond, Praying with Catherine of Siena (Companions for the Journey). 1990. Pages 46 to 47

https://www.amazon.com/Praying-Catherine-Siena-Companions-Journey/dp/0884892301

With thanks to Amazon

MORAL DECISIONS

 

Mariam considered circles which operate on a "need to know" basis.

Rabbi Jesus told her, "So that the individual can avoid having to make moral decisions about the situation."

In order to be fully human, we need to know, discern, weigh up, judge - then make a decision with an informed conscience. Only then will the good and truly human be served.

Risking demonisation of humankind - by means of deprivation of the right to make moral decisions - nullifies one of the basic rights which makes the truly human so attractive to the fully Divine.

Humankind was created with the right to moral and inner freedom.

Don't give it away.

BE JOYFUL TO BE YOU

 

Mariam felt hurt by others' rejection.

She asked the Rabbi, "Why did this happen?"

Rabbi Jesus answered, "They dislike the fact that you are joyful to be you.

True confidence is always a powerful irritant to the lesser confident.

And you win true confidence - and friendship - in Me."

Rejoice in who you are. God created you, unique and irreplaceable. From the beginning of time onwards into all eternity, there will only ever be one you. This is a beautiful thing. Blossom and thrive in the confidence that God loves you.

And remember: Christ is our eternal Mentor and Friend. The Saviour has undertaken to bring the unique work of perfection in your soul to completion. Retain complete confidence in Him.

As St Paul tells us in Philippians 1, "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the Day of Christ Jesus." [1]

[1] St Paul's First Letter to the Phillippians, Chapter 1, verses 3 to 6