Sunday Micro Retreat – July 17, 2022
As you begin your time of reflection, try to realize that you are standing on holy ground and in the presence of God who wants to talk to you and listen to you.
Make the Sign of the Cross. The Holy Spirit is opening your heart and mind so the Word of God that you are about to read can flourish in you for God's glory. Pray that you continue to work with his grace. Let the words or your prayer flow from your mind through your heart. Try to "feel" what you are saying.
Is there anything that you would like to ask God at this moment? What graces does your heart desire? Talk to God about it.
Today, we ask for the grace of love for the Word of God
Now read the Sunday's Gospel:
Now as Jesus and his disciples went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying.
But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me."
But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10, 38-42)
The Word of God touches everyone differently. If there is anything that really stood out for you in this reading, meditate on it. Go to the depths of your heart and listen to what God is trying to say to you.
Next, let's spend some time with a couple of points that you may consider during this Sunday's Retreat:
1. " Martha was distracted by her many tasks "
Have you ever wondered why Matha wanted to do so much? Was it because she wanted to follow her own plan? Was it because she "knew better" what needed to be done at this moment? Matha welcomed Jesus to her home, but she did not ask what he would like to do… what he would like to drink… or eat… Did she consider the needs of Jesus before her own needs of being a great host?
Now think about your encounter with Eucharistic Jesus. What happens when he comes to your heart when you receive Communion. Are you with him at this moment? Are you internally calm? Or do you bombard him with your requests? Or maybe "you are not there" at all… talking to your friends or family who may be sitting in the same pew as you.
Jesus is coming to you… how do you prepare for his visit?
2. "It (Mary's part) will not be taken away from her"
There are several interpretations of what the "it" means. One interpretation is that the "it" is a task of listening which will not be taken away from Mary. The listening presented in this reading has immense value.
Another interpretation from biblical scholars states that this "it" is the blessings of the kingdom of God that will never be lost; basically, it is a special grace in which a person can be in the presence of God.
Finally, others say that the "it" is the fact that Mary will be remembered in history for choosing the more important function, which is feeding her soul with the Word of God.
Think about those three points and reflect on your listening when you are hearing the Word of God. For example, when you are at a Mass, and the readings are being read, is your mind and your heart fully focused on the Word of God? Can you "hear" the message? Or does your mind take you to other places? E.g.: your work assignment or a chore that needs to be done at home?
Also, think about your desire to read the Word of God. If you don't desire to spend some time with the Scripture, what does it tell you about your relationship with Jesus? Do you recognize the presence of God when you meditate on the Word of God?
You may end this retreat by choosing a sentence or a paragraph from the Bible, something that really touched your heart recently and trying to either memorize it, or maybe create an artistic display of this phrase/sentence.
It is good to keep a personal journal in which reflections that stood out for you are recorded. The outcome of those Sunday Micro Retreats is good material that you can talk about in your spiritual direction.
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