HOME

 

Mariam had to move house and felt stressed at the need for relocation. 

Mariam stuttered to the Rabbi, "Home . . . "

Rabbi Jesus reassured her calmly, "Home is a state of heart."

Wherever you go, whatever roof (or none) you lay your head under to rest, you are always at home if you rest calm within the peace of the Lord.

DIFFERENT CULTURES

 

Mariam felt caught between two cultures. 

She told the Rabbi, "I was born to parents from two very different cultures. To which ethnicity do I really belong?"

Rabbi Jesus answered her, "Neither. You are a new creation in God."

Our true inheritance is not from human societal values; it is from our universal Father, God.

DECLINATION OF MATRIMONY

The issue of a man who determinedly chases a woman, and once the woman is enamoured refuses to place a wedding ring on her finger.

Mariam said, "So many women are so deeply hurt by men . . . "

Rabbi Jesus answered her, "Wanting the thrill of the chase without the responsibility of the capture."

Do not trifle with another's feelings. Lives can be disfigured by disrespect.

FREEDOM

Mariam and Rabbi Jesus spoke about freedom. 

The Master said, "Freedom without self-discipline is no freedom at all."

Those who do as they wish with no regard for the lives, rights and feelings of others are enslaved to the god of their self-will without mastery. They are as ships without a captain at the rudder, at the mercy of every storm and current. 

Discipline your self-will and obey the commandments. Then the tears that are shed at love betrayed, finances stolen, bodies and livelihoods disfigured, souls disrespected and children fathered with no love or responsibility will cease. 

Live with the knowledge that you yourselves are the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16): do not shower contempt on that temple.

FOLLOW THE POOR CHRIST

Mariam witnessed clerics expecting dues lower-income parishioners were unable to pay.

Mariam said to the Rabbi, "When one accepts the mantle of priesthood one must ask oneself. . . "
Rabbi Jesus answered, "Are you doing this to help the poor or exploit the poor?"

We follow the poor Christ, born homeless in an animal's stable, fled refugee to a foreign land, no home to rest His Head, buried in borrowed tomb. He ministered unfailingly to the poor in body, mind, spirit and finances. 

Let us do likewise.

QUANDARY

 

Mariam was in a quandary whether to inform her employer regarding irregularities.

Rabbi Jesus told her, "Tell him with confidence. In order to make sound decisions he needs proper facts."

THEOLOGY

Mariam studied theology for years.

She said to the Rabbi, "I have studied theology for years and have come to realize that God's directives are . . . "

Rabbi Jesus answered her, "Utter simplicity from utter complexity."

LOVE TRIANGLE

 

Mariam witnessed the deep hurt resultant from irregular relationship.

She said to the Rabbi, "A philanderer leaves . . . "

Rabbis Jesus answered, "Two women with their lives disfigured."

INSULT

 

Mariam was wounded by another's contemptuous behaviour towards her.

Rabbi Jesus told her, "You may be treated as a scornful object. This does not make you an object of scorn."

BODY DYSMORPHIA

 

Mariam heard of a friend who struggled to come to terms with personal outer appearance.

She spoke with the Rabbi about her friend's sufferings; "When you have body dysmorphia, the problem isn't your body ..."

Rabbi Jesus answered, "It's your spirit."

A distressed mind and spirit leads to a distressed view of your body.