Contemplation in Action
If possible combine the activity of Martha and the contemplation of Mary. (OCL, III, 776 II, p.381)
Meditation is neither a simple form of reflection that should remain within a person, nor is it aimed at giving a pious feeling to a person. Meditation, for St. Vincent, is a means to actively encounter God and others. Therefore, the communion and dialogue a person encounters in meditation must be brought into life and action. In other words, a person’s encounter and communication with Jesus in meditation must be manifested in his apostolate. St. Vincent called his followers for contemplation in action. He told them that they, as far as possible, must combine the activity of Martha and the contemplation of Mary in their life. He considered it as a vital element in a person’s spiritual living. Virtuous Christian living is a mean between extremes. Proposing an apostolic spirituality for his followers, St. Vincent neither wanted them to be only persons of contemplation, nor did he want them to be only active social workers. But he wanted them to be persons combining contemplation and action in their life. For St. Vincent, internalizing the apostolate through prayer is necessary to remove the danger of extreme activism a person can get into, while insertion of prayer into apostolate is needed to avoid the danger of prayer becoming a form of escapism from real life situations. Hence, contemplation in action is the way St. Vincent proposed for his followers.
Does meditation lead me to an active encounter with God and others in real life situations? Am I able to combine the activity of Martha and contemplation of Mary in my personal life? By nature am I more disposed to contemplation or action? What should I do to cultivate in me the spiritual disposition of contemplation in action?
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone. (Jn. 6: 15)