A Woman's Work
Lectio Divina for the Gospel: Luke 17:5-10
The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
The Lord replied,
"If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you would say to this mulberry tree,
'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.
"Who among you would say to your servant
who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field,
'Come here immediately and take your place at table'?
Would he not rather say to him,
'Prepare something for me to eat.
Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink.
You may eat and drink when I am finished'?
Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?
So should it be with you.
When you have done all you have been commanded,
say, 'We are unprofitable servants;
we have done what we were obliged to do.'"
You know the saying, “A woman’s work is never done?” I have often wondered in awe at women who seem to actually do it all. They work a full day, prepare a meal for the family, clean up immediately after, have a cleaning list of daily tasks - that they actually do! … and I am in awe.
Because that is not me. Has never been me and likely will never be. (and thankfully, I have a husband who does dishes!)
Those women possess an energy and discipline in themselves that I do not. (Literally - my vitamin b12 level as really low last month during routine blood work and Discipline is my 34th out of 34 talent themes) (and YES - I know I can work on those areas - but also, it must be recognized they will never be my natural strengths. My natural strength is writing - so here I am.)
The Gospel this week gives me a picture of returning from a looooong day at the office only to be greeted with more work to do once you walk in the house…in this case, preparing and serving a meal for your master. And this work is either going to drain you of even more energy - or replenish you - and it all hangs on these questions:
Who are you working for?
In whose strength do you serve?
From what reservoir are you giving / pouring out?
When this passage is read from the perspective of ourselves - it is too much. If I am working for myself or some faceless entity or cruel master, and then must come back to serve others - out of my own diminishing reserves, I cannot. I quickly become depleted. Deflated. Diminished. Used up. Burnt out. Bitter.
This isn’t the life you want, right?
Jesus begins this teaching by saying that faith as small as a mustard seed is enough to perform mighty deeds. So it’s not a bin-full of faith you need…it’s a power source.
My friend Father David Rosenberg describes it perfectly.
Jesus tells them that it is not more faith they need, they need an impelling force to give them confidence in the faith they already have. What is that force? It is a “trifecta” in the spiritual dynamics of the power of the Holy Spirit. First, we must recognize that we are poor beggars that must pray, “Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart.” The Holy Spirit sends us and impelling force that is like the rope pull of the outboard engine that gets it started. Once our “spiritual engine” is started the rules of spiritual dynamics come into play and “jump start” our sluggish, selfish heart. Second, once impelled, we feel a compelling churning within us. That is the spiritual awakening of compassion.
This summer, my perspective was challenged by the Mary/Martha gospel. Mary chose “the better thing” and it would not be taken from her: to sit at Jesus’ feet, to receive Him, to adore. Martha was pulled in many directions and pouring into many things; she had many competing priorities. A commentary I read said that if we feel pulled in many directions, it’s because we haven’t prioritized “the one needful thing” above all others. The center of our priorities is not the Center of the Universe: God.
This realization was eye-opening for me, as I’d been feeling the effects of disordered priorities in my life. Somewhere along the way, my focus shifted and the Center just became one of the many…and I was growing quite weary as a juggler.
As I have started this school year, I am seeking to keep Jesus as the Center. Weekly adoration became part of my routine at the beginning of 2022, and I find that spending that one hour with Jesus does center my life in ways I can’t quite explain. It’s some of the best use of my time. Whenever Father David begins Mass or teaches class, he says, “Let us begin as we begin all good and holy things: in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” I am trying to incorporate that into my daily routine as well - recognizing the way I live my life and spend each day as “a good and holy thing.”
Discovering this quote from Mother Theresa (St. Theresa of Calcutta) on Labor Day has been another mind-shift:
Many think our vocation is to work. Our vocation is to love Christ.
Contemplating our life calling is never far from my mind. My whole life I’ve wondered if I’m on the right path; if I’m where I am supposed to be - and if I’m missing out on what God has for me. (I am serious - since at least the age of 12, these questions have stalked my deep thoughts.) The work I do with students, centered on professional development, is at its core, a question of discernment of calling.
This quote put all things into right perspective for me. Marriage, work, ministry - it’s all a calling / vocation. My marriage is a vocation and the point of it is to love Christ - through it, in it, with it. Whatever our work, our state, our ministry -
through it, we are to love Christ.
in it, we are to love Christ.
with it, we are to love Christ.
…and in doing so, when we live our life fully in His Spirit - through Him, with Him, and in Him - we are bringing all honor to Him, as well - for from him, and through him, and to him are all things. We are living our truest, highest, deepest calling: to be in full communion with Him - and with others.
So, whatever my work - I am to do it through the power of God, in the grace and strength God supplies, with the love and action of God. When we recognize that whatever we might do is for the point of loving Jesus more - we are freed to pursue good and holy avenues of work and ministry. Being free to love and give is the point of our existence, so that with open hearts we are serving God and our neighbor as ourselves.
