Reflection for April 29th from Paul Smith
Mark 10:17-22
17 ¶ As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No-one is good— except God alone.19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honour your father and mother.’"20 "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. (NIV)
Reflection.
Jesus said that there was just one more thing to do. Just one more thing. Is there just one more thing for us to do? Something we are putting off?
Our daughter’s 60th birthday is this month and she is named after St Catherine of Siena whom we remember today. Like our Catherine, St Catherine didn’t usually put things off. She came from Siena, which is a beautiful town in central Italy with a remarkable central square and a Gothic cathedral built of black and white marble. Catherine was born there in 1347. When St Catherine was 16, like many girls at that time, she decided to go into a convent and became a Dominican nun having a totally single minded life of prayer. But, three years’ later in 1366, while she was praying, she had a vision from God which totally changed her life. Unlike that young man whom Jesus had encountered, she acted. She got up, went back to her family, walked straight into the kitchen where everybody was having dinner, rolled up her sleeves and started doing the chores.
From then on she continued doing her praying, but when she saw that something needed changing, she got on and did something. She became quite fearless and even went to Rome to see the Pope and tell him to stop choosing his favourites as cardinals and leaders in the church, but better people who could actually do the job properly. She didn’t just go to the great and good but also went among ordinary people especially those who were struggling with extreme poverty, other people's cruelty, crime, illness and illness especially the plague.
Take heed of St Catherine of Siena and just as she, an insignificant woman, go up and made a difference to other people’s lives. So we too as a result of our prayer, can make a difference, not just big things like helping the poor and the victimised, but daily little things such as a kind word, or a smile instead of a sad face or anger. Like our daughter, don’t put things off.
Lord Jesus, take me this day and use me,
Take my lips and speak through them,
Take my mind and think through it,
Take my will and act through it,
And fill my heart with love for you.
Amen.
Common Worship: Collects and Post Communions, material from which is included here, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000