Someone had lied to Mariam, and the lies now were being put to the test.
Mariam reached out to Rabbi Jesus for guidance, "There is a day of reckoning . . . "
The Rabbi answered, "And the day is now."
Do not lie. Untruths always come out - if not directly, years later. And if not in this lifetime, before the Judgement Seat of Almighty God in the next.
Mariam held love and prayer in her heart for people now far away, who had made her happy and joyous.
She told Rabbi Jesus, "They changed my life."
The Master answered, "They left their footprints in your heart."
Mariam pondered. Her friends - who had walked into her affection - had changed her life with their love, understanding, humor, patience and the gleam of Christ she had seen within them.
Mariam lived the single life, often alone - at times lonely. She asked Rabbi Jesus, "Why did this have to be?" The Master answered her, "You are destined for greater things."
Mariam sighed, "It is a path that is lonely."
Rabbi Jesus gently replied, "So was mine."
Sometimes loneliness is the price to be paid for availability for ministry, whether in family or community. Be courageous - loneliness is fleeting, the joy of serving the Lord is not.
Mariam was treated harshly. She wept bitterly.
Rabbi Jesus told her gently, "There is no crown without first the thorns."
Holiness is not won by faint heart. Each of us has a personal cross of suffering during this lifetime. The bravest "kiss the cross daily when they pick it up."
Life's difficulties and heartaches - which may serve to purify us of self-interest and sin when accepted with the right spirit - are not always easy for us to accept.
Yet, even if we wish to flee the cross of life's suffering, we will never succeed. Let us then be strong in following Jesus.
Jesus told us: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." (Luke 9:23)
To take up our cross daily means our absolute surrender to following Jesus Christ - including acceptance of the sorrows and difficulties such a life of discipleship may entail.
An injustice was about to occur. Mariam was experiencing peer pressure to remain silent about the impending event. Mariam felt scared.
She told the Master, "I don't want to get involved."
Rabbi Jesus replied, "By not getting involved, you are involved."
All it takes for evil to flourish in the world is for good people to remain silent.
However, sometimes to speak out robustly may bring harm to self or others. In such instances, both wisdom and prudence is required. Prayer will light the way, as will seeking advice from a counsellor known for integrity and appropriate discretion. Something can always be done. Sometimes it needs to be done with caution and diplomacy.
Someone Mariam loved invited her to join in telling a lie under oath. Mariam wrestled with her conscience until she eventually declined. She was sad at being placed in such a quandary.
Mariam told the Rabbi, "I can't call on God to bear witness to a lie, otherwise it would mean that ..."
Rabbi Jesus said, "... the love of man supercedes your love of God."
Don't commit perjury. At our judgement we will be called to answer before God for such a deed.
Mariam was chosen to carry out a great task, for which she felt woefully unequipped.
She told the Master, "I am the weakest of the weak."
Rabbi Jesus confidently answered her, "You are the strongest of the strong."
Alone, we can do nothing. With God, we can do everything.
"I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me." (Phillipians 4:13)
