Saint Martha will help us avoid activism in the spiritual life if we are open to receiving the correction of Christ as she did. Activism is similar to the dispositions we see in workaholics, but one is a religious malady while the other is human. Both are similar in that they cannot stand to be passive. Passivity is characteristic of death, irresponsibility, weakness, apathy, despair, etc. The activity of a workaholic is not noble in and of itself, but it creates the illusion that one’s life is full rather than empty. It is based on the presumption that the activity of work itself is always better than not working. A healthier conception recognizes that human life is more than just work and requires a balance of activity and passivity. This balance can only be established by discovering a truly human finality.
Saturday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
As we grow and develop in the Christian life, it is important to recognize that the struggle for holiness takes place at deeper and more hidden places in our soul. Perhaps we’ve grown in virtue enough that what people can judge of our actions is beyond reproach – perhaps we’ve become like the “just man,” mentioned in the psalms. At that point, temptations to sins of the flesh – gluttony, lust, greed, etc. – may seem to have vanished. Temptation does not only come from undisciplined flesh however. Temptation is also planted, sown in us by an enemy. So when certain struggles of the flesh seem to have vanished or dried up, new and more subtle seeds of evil are being planted in us. Undisciplined and impenitent flesh is fertile soil for obvious sins of the flesh, but self-discipline and self-control are fertile soil for the hidden sins of the spirit. The goal of the spiritual life is not to eliminate temptation – if we begin to believe that we do not experience temptation anymore, and that because we do not we are more perfect, we are preparing the ground for sins of pride, arrogance, self-importance, vanity, etc. It would be better for us to continue in the sins of the flesh with humble recognition and tears of repentance, than in claiming victory over these sins to have our spirit puffed up with pride.
Saint Mary Magdalene
Love is the strongest force that exists. Anyone who is not sure of that has not loved much. But love is not only powerful when it is being experienced in its unitive dimension: it is even more powerful in separation. Longing is produced in the heart whose love is unrequited. When this longing is mere passion, it will eventually fade – but when it is rooted in something deeper and more spiritual it will never be destroyed.
Jesus comes to us in the flesh and kindles in our hearts a deep longing. He does not come to satisfy some passing craving of our heart, instead, after uniting with us He separates Himself. “It is good for you that I go.” “Do not touch me.” The heart that has experienced the flicker of divine love will be constantly reminded of their longing and dissatisfaction with this present world. All attempts to ignore the deeper longing and replace it with something passing result in frustration and anxiety. Perhaps this is Jesus’ meaning for Mary Magdalene: the part of your heart that is drawn, that loves and longs for Me, aim it beyond the dark veil of earth – My Spirit will be in you to guide your heart to the other side.