Abbey-Roads2

July 23, Carmelite Feast of Our Mother of Divine Grace.

In Hispanic culture, there is a devotion to the Blessed Virgin as Divine Shepherdess, which is traced back to a vision of Our Lady by St. Isidore of Seville.  Lately I have taken to invoking Our Lady by this title, which was also a title used by Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified in reference to the Blessed Virgin.  I have found it helpful in meditating upon the passion of Jesus, thinking of Our Lord as the Lamb of God.  (I’m fond of calling him, “Little Lamb” - so you see how Our Lady as Shepherdess fits in so well.)

Like a lamb, led to the slaughter without resistance, Our Lord submitted to those who scourged him, peeling his garments and flesh away as a sheep is shorn…kicking and goading him, until he lie down to be nailed to the cross…like an innocent little lamb.

 Church people.

Martha had to be annoying, don’t you think?  Talk about a Church lady!  I don’t have much more to say about her than that however.

While continuing to suffer blogger-burn-out, and weariness with “Church-stuff” - which has little to do with authentic religion, faith and devotion - I sometimes have to wonder how Christ endured the company of men - indeed, endures all of us now.  Jesus even lamented this in the Gospel when he said,  ”How long must I endure this generation?” - or something to that effect.  (No need to try and answer this for me, please.  We all have answers, don’t we?)

At Open Book, Amy Welborn has probably one of the best posts I have ever read concerning this issue - written by her or anyone else for that matter.  The post is titled, Religion: A Test of Faith- I highly recommend it.  It isn’t the know-it-all, I-have-all-the-answers type of stuff one normally reads in books or on blogs.

Taming of the shrew.

Back to Martha and Mary - Jesus might just as well have said to Martha, “Bitch, bitch, bitch - so you are all about the hospitality ministry - shut up and mind your own business - leave Mary alone.  Oy!  What a kvetch!”  (But our Lord is charity itself, and he wouldn’t have said that - I would have.)

You see, it isn’t so much a question of the active and contemplative life here - it’s about keeping our focus upon Christ - no matter what we are doing - keeping our eyes fixed upon Jesus, who inspires and perfects our faith.

(I’m still on hiatus for awhile - a few hours, a few days?  I don’t know.)