Mariam was pondering her spiritual life and her call to follow Jesus.
She said, "Jesus, it's a mystery to me; I don't understand it."
The Rabbi answered her, "You're not meant to. Does the seed understand the rose?
No. But it comes to its fulfilment in its due time."
Wait long enough and the work of God will be completed within you.
Jesus came to earth to help us with this task; He mandated us "Be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Simply attune your every thought, word and deed to the gospels of Jesus Christ and the Spirit will do the work of God within you.
Trust, and be at peace.
Matthew 5:48
http://biblehub.com/matthew/5-48.htm
With thanks to biblehub.com
Mariam experienced being driven by another to achieve success.
Mariam did not win first place in the academic examination, but had done the very best she could.
The other person was disappointed both in Mariam and with her elation at the mark she had achieved.
Rabbi Jesus smiled at Mariam warmly, saying; "You do not do the best with what I gave him (in the way of talents), but you did the best with what I gave you.
I'm proud of you."
Let us be delighted with the personal gifts of body, spirit and intellect God has given us.
Each person receives a different set of gifts.
And our personal gifts change from time to time.
As we become older, let us not look back at the gifts of our youth and envy the changing seasons of our life.
Without the slowing of faculties we would not have the time to allow the deepening and mellowing of our soul.
As the autumn of our lives slows us down, we have time to reflect, repent and strengthen our areas of weakness, and encourage the maturation of the strengths of our soul.
We do not carry our earthly body into the next world.
However, our spirit is our passport to eternity.
Let us make sure that we have done the very best with what we had as testament to the gift of our soul.
No matter what others thought.
Mariam was exhausted after working overlong and not taking time off to rest and pray.
Rabbi Jesus said sternly, "Do not worship work."
Mariam was thinking about sin, and shivered.
She asked the Master, "Lord, which is the worst sin: Murder or perjury?"
Rabbi Jesus answered, "They're both equally bad. The one destroys the body and the other destroys the soul."
Murder kills another, removing the other from the path to saintliness before the task is completed.
Murder destroys the body, robs life and thus does unresolvable harm to the other.
Perjury, while causing harm and psychological distress to an innocent other, has the effect of destroying personal honor and holiness.
Thus, perjury leaves psychological scars on the innocent other's soul, and exercises destructive effect on personal soul.
It is certainly best to honor all life and hold the truth sacred.
Mariam was depressed about her imperfections.
Rabbi Jesus told her, "What did you expect?
Sainthood in four easy steps?
No, you'll have to do it the hard way."
Mariam was pensive, thinking of what might have been.
Rabbi Jesus told her, "What might have been was never meant to be."
Don't go over past ground. That water has flowed under the bridge never to return.
Look at the present. That is where our thoughts and presence need to be.
Past regrets will only slow our present progress. Let the past go, repent the repentable and learn from the experience.
Mariam spoke with someone who was ashamed of past actions.
The Rabbi said gently, "Christ begins to stir in his soul."
Mariam was thinking of her age, thirty three - and felt old.
The Rabbi laughed and said, "Do you have any idea what a spark you are beside the fire of my age?"
The Son of God is eternal. On this earth let us joyfully welcome each new year as nearing our true destiny - eternity in the presence of the Risen Rabbi.
Proverbs 8:27
"When He established the heavens, I was there; when He drew a circle on the face of the deep."
http://biblehub.com/proverbs/8-27.htm
With thanks to biblehub.com
The members of a household were all at odds with one another, with quarrels breaking out over minor issues.
Mariam, hurt by various comments, asked the Rabbi; "What do you think about this situation?"
The Rabbi answered, "Loads of smoke with no fire."
Quarrels, harsh words and arguments when there are no real problems are faux problems.
Let us learn to speak calmly, quietly and without temper to one another.
