Humble Pie

Readings for Tuesday October 7, 2008

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

First Reading:  Galatians 1:13-24  

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 139

Gospel:  Luke 10:38-42

In both of the readings today Paul and Martha both experience what I like to call "being served a nice slice of humble pie."  In the first reading Paul talks about the choices that he made before meeting the risen Christ.  Paul was a very zealous persecutor of Christians, and he had been very adamant about destroying the church.  God obviously had much bigger plans for Paul.  Paul at the time had very good intentions, and he actually thought that he was serving God through his dedication to Judaism, but as Dr. Samuel Johnson once said:  "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."  Paul learned a very hard lesson here, to which he rightly shared with the church in Galatia.    

In the gospel today, Martha likewise has very good intentions, but these intentions lead her instead to feeling betrayed and judgemental of her sister Mary.  When Martha complains to Jesus about her sister, Martha is instantly served a slice of humble pie.  Jesus leads us to see that it is Mary who has chose the better path ... to listen and to be with Christ.  I believe that this gospel leads us to see that we must have balance in our life.  There are times when we will need to work and do good works in order to serve the Lord, and there will also be times when we really need to "just be" with our Lord.  I think in these moments of being with the Lord we should simply say as the Psalmist says today "Guide me Lord, along the everlasting way."  

The choices that we make in our lives are so important ... from the smallest decision to some of our biggest, we must ask the Lord to guide us along the path He has planned for us.  Because even though we may think that we are doing the right thing or that we have good intentions, the truth may be that we are acting against God and His will for us.  But be sure that if we do find ourselves acting against His will, we can usually expect to find a fresh slice of humble pie waiting for us.  It is in these humbling moments that we should learn from our mistakes and ask for God's forgiveness and mercy through the Sacrament of reconciliation.  

Today think about the following questions:  How do you make your decisions?  Do you make all of them, or do you ask for guidance from your Creator?  

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day.  We thank you and give you praise for all that we have and all that we are, for without you our lives would not be possible.  Lord, even though it is hard, let us all take up our crosses and follow you every minute of every day of lives.  Lord God, we pray for all those who are struggling in making their decisions, may you bring them wisdom and guidance through prayer.  We ask this all through Christ our Lord.  Amen.