All except the nub

"The Lord answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful: and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Lc. 10:41-42.

A clever man is the one who knows the difference and the choice between good and necessary,

between the nub and the accessory. The fool or the mad does not distinguish anything between the two, and his/her choices are always inclined towards the accessory or the pleasant. The reason is that the nub or necessary is always rare and precious, and requires violence to seize it (Mt. 11:12). The Bible speaks in Matthew 25 of wise virgins and foolish virgins: those who are wise know that the key is to have oil in their lamps when the bridegroom comes; the foolish virgins are just satisfied with being virgin!

Jacob knew the nub, namely the heritage of all the promises made to Abraham. He was ready to do anything to secure that inheritance, and used any violence, up to deceit, provided he should obtain the nub. Esau, on the other side, was satisfied with being the eldest son and took all for granted. In this slightness he proceeded up to selling his birthright against a dish of soup. Jacob was intelligent, Esau was crazy or insane.

And we know that God loves intelligent children and hate fools: "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated" Ro. 9:13. The Lord, in the parable of the unjust steward, showed us how the lord (symbolizing God) praised his unjust steward, simply because he had done wisely in reducing the debts of his lord. Then he lamented that the children of this world are wiser than are the children of light! Our Heavenly Father wants us, his children, to be intelligent, prudent and wise.

However, not of this world intelligence, because intelligence which is not drawn from the Word of God is corrupted, it is what has brought the world to its present condition: a world of gays and lesbians, a world of divorced and street children, a world of sodomy, pedophilia, bestiality, partner swapping, etc.., a world of injustice, jungle, wars and conflicts, nuclear and atomic world. This is all the intelligence of man can bring about. But our intelligence is derived from the Word of God and submits to the same, "I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. The entrance of thy words giveth light, it giveth understanding to the simple " Ps. 119:99-100,104,130.

Anyone who thereby becomes wise cannot perish, because God reveals him all the secrets about his salvation. People who perish are the ones cut off from the knowledge of the Word of God, but they that cleave to the Truth know all the mysteries about the love and mercy of God, sin and forgiveness, atonement and redemption, and nothing can separate them from the love of God. Mary knew all these things, by the grace and revelation of the Lord Jesus. So when it came about the Word of God, she left everything and gave to this Word the attention of her whole being. She understood that everything was worthless, but one thing was necessary, i.e. hearing the Word of God. When she saw the Lord open his mouth, she rushed quickly to sit at his feet and heard the Word.

Her sister Martha, had instead other priorities: the Lord came into my house, I have to make him some juice, and while he is taking it I will prepare bread and roast meat, and good wine, this is an opportunity not to miss out to rejoice my Lord, for he has visited me! And while she is busy doing her home care, she gets overwhelmed. But, with the Lord we are not overwhelmed because his yoke is easy and His burden is light. And He says in Isaiah 30:15 "In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. And ye would not!" Mary who knew all these mysteries of salvation in peace and rest, has imposed no chore on herself, she exclusively gave heed to the nub, i.e. listening to the Word of God.

Martha applied herself to all this chore, which stole her away from the thing which is necessary, hearing the Word. Martha took care of everything except the most important thing. She had the grace to be near the Lord who called her to order: only one thing is needed, is that Mary has chosen, i.e. hearing the Word of God, the good tidings of the kingdom. Martha typifies many Christians in all ages. They want to do many things for God or with God, leaving aside the most important thing which is to apply their heart to seek the Truth, and love the Word of God more than anything.

We see in the Gospel of Matthew people who do a lot of things in the name of Jesus, except the key thing, "Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" Mt 7:22. Prophesying in the name of Jesus is not the key thing! casting out devils in Jesus' name is not the key thing! and doing many miracles in the name of Jesus is not the key thing! Indeed, the Lord has not sent us to preach prophecy in the name of Jesus, exorcising in the name of Jesus or miracles in the name of Jesus. About these things, he said they shall accompany those who have believed. In this regard, therefore, faith is the only needful thing; and prophecies, and miracles and exorcizing automatically follow. In the things of God, putting the cart before the ox is nothing other than magic and idolatry.

What is it then that the Lord has counseled us to preach in his name? "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Lc. 24:47. "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:38. In so far as the name of Jesus is concerned, the needful thing is not to prophesy, cast out devils nor do many miracles: the only needful thing according to the instruction of the Lord is to repent in the name of Jesus, be baptized in the name Jesus, receive forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost in Jesus' name.

The fools we read about in Matthew 7:22 were excluded from the kingdom because in everything they did in the name of Jesus, there was nothing that would make them eligible to the kingdom. Their claim was itself crazy. They ought to have said: Lord, we have believed in your name, we have repented in your name, we have been baptized in your name, our sins have been remitted in your name, and ever since your Holy Spirit has been leading us every day in your name. Of course, those who can state this will not even need to, because they will already have entered.

In the grace that was given to me, I try to bring this light to open the eyes of the children of God who are in confusion, and whom God is calling to eternal salvation. We know, moreover, that there are many who do not need salvation, insomuch that they love the world and the things that therein are. These ones, instead of seeking the Truth, and stick onto the Word of God, the everlasting Gospel; they instead involve themselves in religious trivialities; they do deal with everything except the only needful thing, and get themselves excluded from the Kingdom.

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