What sign can you do?

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John 6:30-35 If I wasn't in the same boat as these sinners following Jesus I would probably be laughing right in their face. I often wonder how Jesus kept from rolling on the grass laughing at what some people do. Today we hear the crowd ask Him, "What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do?..." Is this not the same crowd who in verse 2 we are told - "followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick ."? Are these not the same people who in verse 14 " when they saw the sign he had done, they said, "This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world."? Yet still they seek a sign. However, they are not seeking a sign so that they might believe, they are wanting to be fed. Jesus worked a "sign" with the loaves and the fishes and now they want Him to do it again. Wisely, Jesus is using their bellies to get to their hearts; He is using earthly things to move them,
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The Better Part

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We live in an anxious and worried world.  Often we are anxious and worried about things that in no way affect our lives.  We watch the news, read the paper, and become anxious about things in the world  Just as often we forget about these pressing events within a week.  Yet we are also anxious and worried about the real day to day events that touch our lives.

What are you anxious and worried about today?  Are you anxious and worried about your job or children's education?  How about your bills or the stock market?  Are you anxious and worried about your transportation or the election?  What else are you anxious and worried about today?  Which of those things have you brought to Jesus in prayer today?

I have a hard time believing that Mary was lazy or aloof in regard to the world around her.  Rather, she put first things first.  The food could wait one more minute.  The preparations wouldn't be ruined if they were neglected for five more minutes as she spent time with Jesus.  In fact, the work she does after may be even better.  Her heart will be at peace, not anxious.  She may do a better job because she will no longer have worries troubling her heart but will instead have love, Jesus, in her heart.  Mary put relationships first, most especially her relationship with the Lord.

We live in an anxious and worried world.  We live in a world that sees more value in production than relationships.  Our culture encourages efficiency over beauty and construction over conversation. That is why we text rather than call but never say, "I miss her now that she's gone, I wish I could just get one more text from Grandma."  No, we miss the person, the smile, the conversation, the touch.  Martha lived in a similar culture and needed to be gently reminded that people are more important than production.

How could your life change if you (and I) were more like Mary and less like Martha?  Would you find more peace if you spent a few more minutes sitting at His feet and listening to Him speak?  Would your daily routine benefit if it began with a few minutes invested in your relationship with Jesus?  Would your work find more meaning if you first spent time talking to the Lord about the work ahead of you?  Would your family be less anxious and worried about the world around them if listening to Jesus was a daily event, a daily conversation?  Would our relationships with others improve if our relationship with Him improved?

Jesus helps Martha, and us, to see that He must come first in our lives.  He must be a priority each day, every day, even in the most menial events.  He wants to be in our lives.  He wants us to listen to Him and He wants to listen to us.  He wants a relationship.  That is the better part and we should not allow anyone to take it from us nor rob ourselves of it.  That is the better part of our day and our life.

St. Martha, pray for us and help us to chose the better part.

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If you are looking for help in developing a daily routine of prayer and conversation with the Lord I'd like to recommend my book 4 Simple Steps to Better Meditations.  This short but powerful book will help you develop great habits and great conversations with the Lord.  Be sure to download the free companion daily worksheet as well.  It's what I use each day.

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