Book 3, Chapter 44: Do not be troubled by outward things.
Chapter Focus: Minding our own business runs the gamut from casual disinterest in the activities of others to intentional disregard for the troubling nature of the chaos around us. Jesus tells us to regard all things as passing away, taking an attitude of “I am here today.” More specifically, He says: “I Am the Resurrection and the Life; whoever believes in Me, even if he dies, will live.” He puts order into our chaotic lives.
This puts into perspective the notion on of diminishing our interest in unimportant things – from ignoring gossip to staying away from repellent political discussions, to quelling rumors and side-stepping scandals- we will have more focus on what really matters; eternal life.
I picked St. Martha as my icon this week because when Jesus first visits her home, she seems to be worried about many things from the outside, ignoring our Lord’s presence. But later, Marth has the presence of mind to declare Jesus as the Messiah, despite the rumblings of her neighbors at the death of Lazarus. In this encounter with Jesus, she concentrates on those things which contribute to her peace, maturing in her relationship with Jesus (Jn 11:27). Her peace permeates her mind and spirit to the point of advising the more pious Mary that “The teacher is here and is asking for you.” (Jn 11:28), which is a 180-degree turn of events from her first encounter with Jesus where she was troubled with many things (Lk 10:38-42).
Back to eternal life: At the hour of death, will honor, fortune, or pleasure mean anything to us? No. It will amount to nothing, insofar as I have entered into, or not entered into those vain activities. Thomas tells us that we’ll be happier if we’ve set aside and died to these worldly affections before we die in actuality. Thus, if we die a little each day, physically, spiritually, and mentally, to these vanities which we have to abandon in death anyway, we will meet physical death with a happy, no-regrets, departure.
Like Martha and Mary, we tend to mourn temporal losses and dwell upon such loss to the point of becoming inconsolable when these manifestations are threatened or destroyed. It is the eternal loss that should be our chief concern.
Chapter 44, In Short.
1. There are many things in life you must ignore.
2. We tend to dwell on unimportant things to the exclusion of God’s eternal call.
Scripture Memory Prayer: “Martha, Martha, you are troubled about many things.” (Luke 10:41)
or
“The teacher is here and is asking for you.” (Jn 11:28)
Question: What’s going on in your life that you need to ignore?
Key Quote: “…for a trifling gain we labor and hurry; and spiritual loss passes away into forgetfulness…”
The text of Chapter 44: Do not be troubled by outward things.
The Voice of the Beloved:
“My Child, it is suitable for you to be ignorant of many things, and to count yourself as being dead upon the earth, and as one to whom the whole world is crucified. You must pass by many things with a deaf ear, and instead must concentrate on those things which contribute to your peace. It is better to turn away your eyes from those things that distract you; leaving each person to his own opinion, rather than entering into the rancorous debate. If you stand well with God and in your mind respect His judgment, you will easily bear with this.”
The Disciple:
2. O Lord, to what have we come? Behold a temporal loss is mourned over; for a trifling gain we labor and hurry, and spiritual loss passes away into forgetfulness, and we rarely recover it. That which profits little or nothing is looked after, and that which is altogether necessary is negligently passed over; because the whole person slides away to outward things, and unless he quickly recovers himself in outward things he willingly lies down in the mire.