A Balancing Act

Today is the feast day of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus.  Martha was the sister of Mary and Lazarus of Bethany and she begged Jesus to restore life to her dead brother. Pope Francis upgraded the feast to formally include Mary and Lazarus in 2021.  Although Martha is the patron saint of active, practical women and traditionally contrasted with her more laid back and “contemplative” sister Mary, she is also the woman of faith who said: “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into the world” (Jn 11:27) I like to think of the spirit of the Secular Carmelites in terms of combining Mary with Martha.  It’s quite a tricky balancing act - but that in itself turns us to the Good Lord because we need His grace to live it.      

Intercessions

RIP Fr Jon Bielawski, Jacqui, Sister Maisie

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Catherine, Alex (43 with five children), Theresa K, Elena

Sophie – newborn having heart surgery; Sianna, young child in the post-operative phase; James, recovering from heart surgery

Ivy – sick child

Brian (recovering from Pneumonia)

Kevin (heart attack)

William Gove (in recovery)

Illness:  Katy Keeling

Siena, Elara – sick children

David OCDS – housebound

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)

Mark – brain infection

Michael, Kira – vulnerable youngsters

Defence of the unborn and the elderly

We are asked to pray for the Diocese of Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand, as the Northern Mission celebrates its centenary. The process of selecting a new bishop continues.