“Ignore the Rat Droppings”
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
July 20 – 21, 2019
Scripture: Luke 10:38-42
Banned phrases at this parish are: 2nd collection, choir practice, and crisis. For a situation to be a crisis, one of the following must be happening:
– We are taking incoming fire,
– We are suffering mass casualties, or
– There isn’t enough money to pay salaries, especially mine
Sometimes, the staff will tell me that we have a crisis. I ask them if we are taking incoming fire. Usually, the problem is that we do not have a reader or an organist. But, that’s okay…I can read. I can’t play the organ, but music is not required to hold Mass. At my previous parish, the sound system operator came up to me at Mass to let me know that her sister was in labor. Because I did not study obstetrics at seminary, we may have had a problem that day. And, I have to admit, I’ve gone to the altar with better thoughts. However, all the worries we have when we come to church are just rat droppings.
In today’s scripture, Jesus and the apostles were visiting Martha and Mary’s home. While Martha was working hard to serve their guests, Mary simply sat at the feet of the Lord. Exasperated, Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her. He responded, saying “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things” (Luke 10:41). Jesus was telling Martha to slow down and to focus on Who is important. We, too, sometimes let the small stuff take us away from Him. Focus on what is important. Focus on Christ.
Prayer is heart speaking to heart. There are three types of prayers: vocal, mental/meditative, and unitive. Vocal and mental prayers prepare us for unitive prayer which is when God comes to you. This is the state we should strive for. The point of this exercise is the adoration of Christ and to be united with Him. We need to focus on who we are praying to and who is present.
Sometimes, we see messages like “Say this prayer for 10 days” or “Say this or that word just right” and good things will happen for you. But this is just extortion. It will not change God’s mind. I want to be Monsignor…but I don’t see that happening in the next four years.
Quiet reflection before Mass prepares us for the Holy Sacrifice where we die with Christ and rise with Him. We are active participants in the Mass when we give our human nature to Him in the offertory. When I visit a nursing home, many of the residents are sleeping. Are they actively participating? Yes. In fact, they might be in unitive prayer already.
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you ignore the rat droppings and focus on Who is important? Will you focus on Christ?