Saint Luke tells us of a time when Jesus came to visit some friends and the sisters Martha and Mary reacted in very different ways (Luke 10:38-42).  Martha scurried around preparing dishes and seeing to the comfort of their esteemed guest. Mary, on the other hand, visited with Jesus - learning from him, and enjoying his presence.  When Martha complained that her sister wasn't helping with the entertainment, Jesus essentially told her to "chill" and follow her sister's lead.  Why did he do that?

Jesus was pointing out that we all need to stop and reflect at times, and to spend some quality time with Him.  In our world of I-Phones, I-pods, news 24/7, Facebook, Twitter, long work days, church activities, other volunteer associations, kids' car pools, and so much more, it's easy to become like Martha, neglecting to engage in that critical "Mary" time that we all need.

For most of us, it's easy to get caught up in "Martha mode."  Yet, like Martha, we all need to learn to step back, take some time to visit with - and nurture our relationship with - Jesus.  The question is, how can we do that?  Prayer, meditation, and quiet time are some standard answers to this question.  A great aid in this process lies in the area of study, using Scripture and the Church's Sacred Tradition to learn more about Jesus and what it means to follow Him. Knowing more about Jesus can lead to being better prepared to spend time visiting with Him.

But where can a person learn more about Scripture and Tradition?  How about the Christian Education offerings right here in our own parish?

The new teaching year begins September 12th.  The Rector, Curate, and Parish Catechists have laid out a plan of study that has something for everyone - from the very young to the not-so-young, from life-long Christians to the newly converted, from those who have taken many classes here, to those who never set foot in a class.  Isn't it time that you nurture your "Mary" mode and make a commitment?  There are plenty of offerings on both Sunday mornings and Tuesday nights.  So keep reading and commit this year to the discipline of study to help you achieve greater balance between your Martha and Mary modes.

Donna Wheeler, Parish Catechist & Co-Ordinator of Christian Formation

Click HERE to get the full 2010 - 2011 Christian Education schedule in downloadable pdf format.