"BY YOUR WORK, YOU SHOW WHAT YOU 

LOVE AND WHAT YOU KNOW."

                       - Saint Bruno 

If there is always a certain uneasy questioning of the contemplative life,

there is an even greater puzzlement about the extremely

penitential combination of community

and hermit life lived by the Carthusians. May we mirror Saint Bruno’s

quest for holiness and unity with God.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Galatians 1:13-24

You have heard of

My previous activity in the Jewish community;

I furiously persecuted the Church of God and tried to destroy it.

For I was more devoted to the Jewish religion than many fellow Jews of my age,

and I defended the traditions of my ancestors more fanatically.

 

But one day, God called me, out of his great love, he,

who had chosen me from my mother's womb; and he was pleased to reveal, in me,

his Son, that I might make him known among the pagan nations. Then,

I did not seek human advice nor did I go up to Jerusalem, to those who were apostles before me.

I immediately went to Arabia, and from there, I returned, again, to Damascus.

 

Later, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to meet Cephas,

and I stayed with him for fifteen days. But I did not see any other apostle except James,

the Lord's brother. On writing this to you, I affirm before God that I am not lying.

After that, I went to Syria and Cilicia.

The churches of Christ in Judea did not know me personally;

they had only heard of me: "He, who once persecuted us,

is now preaching the faith he tried to uproot." And they praised God because of me.

 

Ps 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15

 Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 10:38-42

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he entered a  village,

and a woman called Martha welcomed him to her house.

She had a sister named Mary, who sat down at the Lord's feet to listen to his words.

Martha, meanwhile, was busy with all the serving, and finally she said,

"Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the work? Tell her to help me!"

But the Lord answered, "Martha, Martha, you worry and are troubled about many things,

whereas only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Both men and women can learn.

One of the observable scenarios in our churches, especially in the basic ecclesial communities,

is the strong presence and involvement of women. In a mission area where I had been,

most of the Mass attendees were women. One could hardly see any men.

They play an important role in the life of the Church and keep it alive.

 

The presence of Jesus among His women friends, Martha and Mary,

and His encounter with them in the Gospel affirm the importance of women's discipleship.

The service rendered by Martha and the learning disposition of Mary at the foot of Jesus

show facets of Christian discipleship from which both men and women can learn.