A book titled “If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing Here in the Pits?” was a New York Times bestseller. Its authors recounted two distinct periods in their lives, illustrating the temporariness of certain phases.
During their children’s younger years, they would look at their backyard, seeing muddy patches instead of a lush lawn, and wonder, “Will the grass ever come back?” Later, when their children had grown and left home, they would enter the now-empty rooms and wonder, “Will the children ever come back?”
These experiences, as the authors suggest, highlight that some parts of life are temporary, while others appear almost eternal, and that true wisdom lies in discerning the difference. This introduces today sermon’s central theme about what truly endures, particularly in the context of spiritual devotion, as explored in the story of Mary and Martha.
My reflection today highlights the Great Commandment – to “Love the Lord your God with everything, and love your neighbour as you love yourself.” While the Good Samaritan parable last Sunday exemplified loving our neighbour, the story of Mary and Martha this Sunday illustrates our love for God.
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