I went to Mass today, a late Saturday afternoon Catholic church service. During the sermon, the priest told a story which I found particularly instructive, and which is as follows.
An especially devout woman prayed much every day. After a long time of such persistent prayer, Jesus told her that because of her devotion, He would visit her the next day.
When she woke up, she eagerly began cleaning her home. She was also spending much of the day cooking. In the morning, the bell rang. She answered the door. A young child, upset, cried to her that he was lost and couldn't find his family. He asked the woman to help him. She replied that she was busy, so that she couldn't help him.
She returned to her cleaning and cooking. In the afternoon, a middle-aged woman appeared at her door. The woman outside the door shared that she and her family were poor and that they didn't know how they would be able to eat their next meal. The woman in the house responded that she didn't have time to help her because she was occupied with her cooking and cleaning.
The woman in the house recommenced her work. When it was in the evening, an elderly man appeared at her door and asked for her help. The woman explained that she couldn't assist him because she already had a lot to do. The lady kept working and eventually turned in for the night.
During her dreams that night, she saw Jesus in a dream. She noted, "You said You were going to come visit me." Then she asked Him, "Why didn't You come visit me?"
Jesus replied, "I came to you three times, but you wouldn't let Me in."
An especially devout woman prayed much every day. After a long time of such persistent prayer, Jesus told her that because of her devotion, He would visit her the next day.
When she woke up, she eagerly began cleaning her home. She was also spending much of the day cooking. In the morning, the bell rang. She answered the door. A young child, upset, cried to her that he was lost and couldn't find his family. He asked the woman to help him. She replied that she was busy, so that she couldn't help him.
She returned to her cleaning and cooking. In the afternoon, a middle-aged woman appeared at her door. The woman outside the door shared that she and her family were poor and that they didn't know how they would be able to eat their next meal. The woman in the house responded that she didn't have time to help her because she was occupied with her cooking and cleaning.
The woman in the house recommenced her work. When it was in the evening, an elderly man appeared at her door and asked for her help. The woman explained that she couldn't assist him because she already had a lot to do. The lady kept working and eventually turned in for the night.
During her dreams that night, she saw Jesus in a dream. She noted, "You said You were going to come visit me." Then she asked Him, "Why didn't You come visit me?"
Jesus replied, "I came to you three times, but you wouldn't let Me in."
