Gratitude & Thanksgiving

              Martha  " went out ” (11:20) She greeted him She communicated with Him He revealed His identity to her  (11:25) “I am the resurrection and the life…” In words she declared him as the Messiah  The Son of God (Jn 11:27) Mary  remained " at home” (11:20) Jesus asked for her (11:28) She rose  quickly to meet him (11:29) They followed her (11:31) She fell at his feet (11:32) He wept  with her (11:33) Her actions declared His identity  And through her the others saw His love (11:37) Martha  -  she sought Him, she declared She was in the world (11:20) Among the first to know   Among the first to greet Him She declared Him as Messiah (11:27) But she doubted “…but there will be a stench…” John 11:39 Mary - she waited, she believed She was "at home” (11:20) Among the last to know Among the last to greet Him Yet at a deep level of communion  A sinner who had repented...

      Sharing wisdom from ancient writings … EXCERPTS taken from the 2nd Reading of the Office Of Readings 1 Jul 2017: BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART, FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD (Mat 5:8) "I do not think that this is simply intended to promise a direct vision of God if one purifies one’s soul.  On the other hand, perhaps (it is saying): The kingdom of God is within you. That is, we are to understand that when we have purged our souls of every illusion and every disordered affection, we will see our own beauty as an image of the divine nature . (And this): In you there is a certain desire to contemplate what is truly good. ... So if, by love and right living, you wash off the filth that has become stuck to your heart, the divine beauty will shine forth in you.  Think of iron, which at one moment is dark and tarnished and the next, once the rust has been scraped off, shines and glistens brightly in the sun. It is the same with the inner core of man, which the Lord...