Advent 1 - Feast of Nicholas Ferrar - December 1, 2011

Text: Luke 10:38-42 (see below)

Most people do not know the name Nicholas Ferrar, whose witness we remember this day, unless you have been to an Episcopal Seminary or you are a “Sacristy Rat”. Nonetheless, Nicholas is a man whose story should be shared with everyone in our generation for he is a wonderful illustration of “being” and “doing”.

Nicholas was born in 1592, ordained a deacon, and founded a religious community that lasted only twenty years (1626 – 1646). The community that he founded devoted themselves to a rule of life that consisted of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. So that they could have a place to worship, Nicholas’ community restored an abandoned church building which became the center of their mission. There the community gathered each and every day to read the daily office, recite all 150 psalms, and at least one person of the community was assigned to be in prayer so that the community might fulfill the scriptures, “Pray without ceasing”. Under Ferrar’s leadership, the community reached out to the neighborhood around them feeding the hungry, educating the children, and providing for the well being of all.

While the community only lasted twenty years, its end coming at the hands of the Puritans, these faithful Christians are remembered for their devotion to God and their witness to the poor. In the times in which we live where egoism, materialism, and a mentality of “my way or the highway” dominates, the religious community that Ferrar founded should be an inspiration to all of us to live a more Christ centered life.

In my walk with Jesus am I spending more time “doing” or “being”? What do I need to do in order to bring a better balance between the two so that my life might resemble both Mary and Martha?

Love One Another – Brian

Our Extraordinary Work

Elizabeth O'Connor

Without a protected time of daily silence we have no possibility of doing the extraordinary inward work that each of us needs to do. More, we will not make any substantial or sustained commitment to the solitary life unless we ask and seek for ourselves a structure of accountability.

Source: The New Community

Luke 10:38-42

Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.^* Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’