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Dear Family of Mary!"God does not want anything from you except your surrender. Therefore, little children, decide seriously for God, because everything else passes away. God alone does not pass away." (May 25, 1989) Every Thursday, Our Lady has asked us to read Matthew 6: 24-34. She wants us to embed this scripture in our hearts, so that we can be guided by it. Yesterday, because my friend Peggy reminded me, we read it during our internet rosary. And I later prayed it through. I actually didn't get past the first verse: "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."(Mt 6:24)I felt that I had to ask myself, "Who do I serve?" I hadn't really asked myself that question for a while. I assumed the answer was God. But on a closer look I found out differently. Here is what I wrote: "Who do you serve?" This asks who rules in my life. Who is the authority? Who commands my love? Who deserves my loyalty? Who do I trust to lead me? Lord, do I serve You? The Lord seemed to reply:
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When you wake up in the morning, do you think of me?
Well, yes, but my thoughts are muddled.
Why don't you memorize the Morning Offering? It will help you focus. When you dress, do you think of Me?
Well, no, I think of what I look like, how old my clothes are, how old I am getting!
Try thanking me for your body, your clothes, your day. I provide for you, be grateful and happy the way you are! When you eat breakfast, do you think of Me?
Not really, I think of oatmeal, eggs, cholesterol, calories, of fears, of fatness etc.
Who rules those thoughts?
The ruler of this world.
Try thinking of Me, of how I made oats and chickens and eggs and wheat - all for your breakfast. Try to be grateful for it all. Accept it as a gift, which it is, and be happy!
When you exercise, do you think of Me?
No, I think of the exercise lady, of getting healthy, of getting trim, of staving off old age!
Who can add a cubit to his span of life? Try doing it for Me, because it makes me happy to see you happy and healthy. I created your body, it is holy. Let it be holy, set apart for my glory, not yours!
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Well, sometimes. But I also think of all the ways I might not be doing things well, that I might not be doing a good job.
Can you do it for Me? In joy at my providence? Clearly it is because of My blessing that you have work.When you pay your bills, do you think of Me?
I try.
Refer each bill to Me, I pay them, not you. Believe that.
I will try.
Remember the jar of oil. It was never 'full' but never 'empty', but always just what was needed. This is how I provide. It requires trust and generosity. Give and it will be given. When you clean your house, do you think of Me?
I think of other women and what they would say about my house.
Then you are serving pride.
I guess so.
Clean for me, because I am your guest. Do it for love of me, I want to come to your house. Well, you get my drift! We don't really know who we serve unless we look at what we do in our day and how we do it, with what attitude, with what incentive, with what thoughts. Through this little journaling moment, I found I was not really doing much for Jesus. Most of it was for myself, my pride, or to please someone else. Who do I serve? Let it be God!In Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2011
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