Temperaments And The Spiritual Life

Martha must be the patron saint of OC people. She is the typical homemaker, practical and always busy doing something. When Jesus came visiting, she would go immediately to meet and welcome Him and then busy herself in the kitchen to prepare something to eat. She wanted everything in order and planned, always looking at things as they should be. Like, she told Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

In contrast, Mary was the more spontaneous person. She loved just spending time with Jesus, listening to His stories and telling Him hers. She would simply go with the flow, allowing serendipity to take over. She could spend hours doing nothing but simply being with Jesus.

Our temperaments are our ways to God. A bubbly and spontaneous personality helps one to see the joys and blessings there are in living. An industrious and diligent personality enables on to work hard in the service of others and for one’s salvation. It is also through our temperament that God speaks to us. He can speak to us in our joyful moments and spontaneous events. He can speak to us even as we work and are busy doing things.

Holy is the Lord our God.
~ Psalm 99
Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary
to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died].
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming,
she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home.
Martha said to Jesus,
“Lord, if you had been here,
my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that whatever you ask of God,
God will give you.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.”
Martha said to him, “I know he will rise,
in the resurrection on the last day.”
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?”
She said to him, “Yes, Lord.
I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,
the one who is coming into the world.”
John 11:19-27
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