HARSH TREATMENT

 

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.

INJUSTICE

 

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.

LYING

 

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.

WEAKNESS

 

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)

SELF-CRITICISM

 

Mariam felt sad at her failures. She felt desolate and worthless.

Rabbi Jesus told her, "That is the state where you are too harsh on yourself."

Lord Jesus told us to "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:39). If we practise self-hatred, how can we ever love others as the Savior did? You can only love another as much as you love yourself.

You are beautiful. If there are parts of yourself which have been hurt, corrupted, or are no longer beautiful, turn to Jesus. Repent, ask pardon, receive grace. If possible, go to confession and receive the absolution. And then, try again.

We are an ongoing work of holiness until the work Jesus has begun in us is completed, and we become saints.

Don't be too hard on yourself: we were made from the sand of the earth, and God never forgets that. Yet we carry the Divine spark within us, the Image and Likeness of God.

Love yourself. Respect your successes. Chalk your failures down to experience. Repent your sin. Ask pardon when you have transgressed. Receive God's Grace. Be at peace when you receive God's forgiveness.

Be gentle on yourself. Be gentle to the world around you. Respect others, and all life which shares this planet with you. Realize there is something beautiful in us all.

All this will help us not to indulge in over self-criticism.

If you wish for peace from repentance, perhaps you may find comfort at the following Chapel of Repentance,

https://churchinterfaith.blogspot.com/2017/03/prayer-chapel-of-repentance.html

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.