Scripture Scribbles: July 17, 2022

the Gospel

Luke 10:38-42

Jesus entered a village

where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.

She had a sister named Mary

who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.

Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,

"Lord, do you not care

that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?

Tell her to help me."

The Lord said to her in reply,

"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.

There is need of only one thing.

Mary has chosen the better part

and it will not be taken from her."

the devotion

“It didn’t exactly turn out as you had hoped,” whispered the enemy, filling my tortured heart with profound despair. The crushing reality was that I wasn’t perfect, and I could never be perfect, therefore, I felt that I was unlovable.

I made huge mistakes along the way – terrible decisions, choices, and actions. So, I worked even harder to make up for my failures. Like Martha, I was burdened with much serving, anxious and worried about many things, trying to please. Desperately desiring to earn my family’s love, I was fighting a losing battle.

Like Mary, I needed to choose the better part, the only thing needed, to sit beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak his words of unconditional love and acceptance to me, His beloved, imperfect daughter. Only in Eucharistic Adoration did I feel completely safe and secure. Only Jesus Christ could truly love me in my vulnerability, weakness, woundedness, and brokenness. Gazing on the face of perfect love, receiving His free, unearned gift of healing love enabled me to love, albeit imperfectly.

Yes, some of my dreams have not yet been fulfilled, but “hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts.” (Romans 5:5). Despite my imperfections, I am still lovable.

“You are not the sum of your weaknesses and failures. You are the sum of the Father’s love for you and your real capacity to become the image of His Son Jesus.”

-Pope St. John Paul II

Today’s devotion was written by Karen Molvar