Trinity Episcopal Church

July 18, 2010

Last week we heard the story of the Good Samaritan and Jesus’ command to go and do something for someone. This week in our gospel (Luke chapter 10), in another encounter with Jesus, two sisters hear a different command: sit and listen. I once talked with a monk named Abraham. Brother Abraham lived in the present moment, in the now. Nor did he live by anyone else’s standards. When Abe wasn’t wearing his brown wool habit, his clothes were either mismatched or straight out of the 70s, but he didn‘t care, and I liked that about him. I asked him about the spiritual life and the feelings of worry, loss of control and anxiety with which so many people struggle. “What does it take to become spiritually healthy?” I asked. He paused a moment, glanced down at his bell bottoms and earth shoes, and said, “Eliminate hurry from your life.” “OK, good, good answer!” I quickly replied, (I sounded like a contestant on Family Feud). “What else?” Br. Abraham said, “Well, eat lots and lots of prunes!” “Prunes?” I said. “Why prunes? What does that have to do with spirituality?” He answered, “You didn’t hear my first answer so if you eat the prunes then maybe you’ll be forced to sit down and be still.” The key to the spiritual life is “eliminating hurry” as best as you can. Hurry is our great enemy. It distracts us from many more important life-nourishing moments. Jesus wasn’t telling Martha that she was wrong or bad. He was asking her to slow down. Put off your Emily Post mindset for a while and put on a Br. Abraham attitude. Sit and listen! If that is too tough, then eat lots and lots of prunes and keep a bible in the bathroom.

Fr. Rick

Trinity Episcopal Church

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July 18, 2010