This week for Pondering in My Heart Monday, I'm thinking about Sunday's Gospel. Mathew 25: 31-46
After I spent most of Sunday lamenting my loss of 'rest', I went to Mass in the evening to hear Jesus say that I actually could have been doing all those things for him if I weren't doing those with such a scowl. It really put me in my place and I asked Jesus once again to change my heart of stone and give me a new one.
My husband has to work on Sundays, so I don't get his help to make Sunday a day of rest. No, I spend all day chasing after three kids as they gallivant around the house, making messes where ever they go. So much for NOT working on Sundays. With young kids (ages 1, 2 and 5), you don't get a choice. Everyday, all day is hard work. They don't care if it's the Lord's Day. They will still need every meal and snack served to them and cleaned up for them, still need someone to help them get changed, change their dirty diapers, wipe their butts, noses and faces, read their books, play their games, clean up their games, break up their fights, wipe tears, make all things right, help them all day with everything and care deeply about them. You want to spend just 15 minutes of quiet time reading the bible, praying, and resting today, momma? Good luck with that!
I really shouldn't have been complaining about how I never get a break or giving harsh scoldings about how I have to clean up all their messes all day long. Sure, they could have been a little more careful and clean up after themselves a little more (at least the five year old), but it should have been an honor to do unto the LEAST of these as I would have done unto Jesus. I just thank God I get a new day to try harder to be a more generous servant so I can hear Jesus say, come, you honored servant. You saw me naked and clothed me, you saw me needing breakfast and fed me, you saw me sick and wiped my snotty nose, you saw me needing a kiss on my boo boo and kissed it- even if it was my dirty foot...come into my Kingdom.
Lord, help me not be a begrudging servant. Help me to serve you in the little people around me with all gentleness and love. Amen.
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| Matthew 25: 31 - 46 | |
| 31 | "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. |
| 32 | Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, |
| 33 | and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. |
| 34 | Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; |
| 35 | for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, |
| 36 | I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' |
| 37 | Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? |
| 38 | And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? |
| 39 | And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?' |
| 40 | And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' |
| 41 | Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; |
| 42 | for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, |
| 43 | I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' |
| 44 | Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?' |
| 45 | Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' |
| 46 | And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." |
1 comment:
i am right there with you sarah. i like your insights.
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