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Thursday, July 29, 2021

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St. Martha


Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38
Psalm 84:3-6, 8, 11
John 11:19-27
or Luke 10:38-42

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“it’s god’s fault”

“Lord, are You not concerned that my sister has left me to do the household tasks all alone? Tell her to help me.” —Luke 10:40

St. Martha blamed Jesus, that is, God, for not telling Mary to help her. We also blame God for not stopping tragedies and for not doing what we want. Martha seemed close to blaming God again for not preventing the death of her brother Lazarus (Jn 11:21). However, she refrained from blaming God, started believing God (Jn 11:27), and saw the glory of God as her brother was raised from the dead and unbound by Jesus (Jn 11:44).

When your output exceeds your input, then your upkeep becomes your downfall. In other words, when we try to do more than we have received the grace from God to do, the living of our everyday lives will cause us to break down. Moreover, when we are blaming God, we set up an obstacle which prevents us from freely receiving His grace, His input into our lives. (We don’t receive much from people that we blame.) Therefore, we must repent of blaming God, or we will fall apart.

Don’t blame God. He alone is innocent. Thank and love God. He alone is worthy. Receive His grace. See His glory.

Prayer:  Father, I will take the plank out of my eye and not criticize You (Mt 7:5).

Promise:  “I had rather one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” ––Ps 84:11

Praise:  Like many of us, St. Martha often let the cares of the world obscure her vision. But in the end, she was graced with the most significant of titles –– Saint.

Reference:  

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the period from June 1, 2021 through July 31, 2021. Reverend Steve J Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 20, 2021"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.