The Journey 28

Saturday, January 28

Read: Luke 10:38-42

A small piece of news caught my attention while sitting in a doctors clinic glancing the magazine “ People” that was lying in the reception room. What caught my attention was the news that  Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger have come together for another major occasion since Maria had filed for separation from her husband last July. The news reports states that he two spent Christmas this December,  together with their children at their home in Brentwood, California., According to the magazine, sources close to the couple states that for them " "Children and family come first,", For both Arnold and Maria supporting and loving their children has been their priority in life. This family Christmas celebration has brought in a hope, with the reports coming that  Shriver is having second thoughts about moving forward to end here marriage, though she has still not done anything to drop the separation proceedings till this day.

       What brings transformation in ones family is the priority and the responsibility  that each one takes to build our family life. On Saturday’s we meditate on how we can bring transformation in our family life based on the family of Mary, Martha and Lazarus that is mentioned in the gospel of Luke 10:38-42. A family that enjoys the company and the fellowship of the Lord and also vice versa. But as the family enjoys intimacy with Jesus Christ, Martha has some issues with regards to the issue of how to balance work and intimacy with Jesus Christ. This has been an eternal question that so many individuals and families are still grappling with. Martha is concerned about work while Mary is concerned about intimacy and fellowship with Jesus Christ. When the issue whether work or intimacy is important is brought to the notice of Jesus Christ, he tells Martha to stop worrying about what she is doing and tells her to stop criticizing Mary with what she is doing. Jesus goes further and says that Mary has chosen what she seems as the best and that will not be taken away [ Luke 10;41-42]. What is it that Jesus was communicating to Martha and is communicating to us. We live in a fast paced world where some people are only concerned about their work. Come Sunday, you ask why they did not come to church, they complain about the work schedule, ask them to come for a outing or a family retreat, there are  more excuses of work and other important work assignments. Yes work is important but if our family life needs to be transformed each member of the family has to prioritize his work and his responsibility at home. It is only when we prioritize our daily duties, that we will find time both for  our professional work and assignment and also at the same time enjoy the intimacy and fellowship that we need to give to our family and also get from our family. Otherwise in the end, we may have everything, what we had desired but nothing that gives us hope in life to live on.

Have you been able to prioritize your demands in your professional life and need of intimacy in your family life?

For Further Study:   Ecclesiastes ,   Mathew 6

Let us Pray:Lord you want us to be understand what our priorities in life are. Often we are only concerned about our professional life forgetting that we also need to build our family life. Forgive our sin of not maintaining our priorities. Amen