A READING FROM LUKE:

"AS JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES WENT ON THEIR WAY, HE CAME TO A VILLAGE WHERE A WOMAN NAMED MARTHA WELCOMED HIM IN HER HOME. SHE HAD A SISTER NAMED MARY, WHO SAT DOWN AT THE FEET OF THE LORD, AND LISTENED TO HIS TEACHING. MARTHA WAS UPSET OVER ALL OF THE WORK SHE HAD TO DO , SO SHE CAME AND SAID, "LORD, DON'T YOU CARE THAT MY SISTER HAS LEFT ME TO DO ALL THE WORK BY MYSELF? TELL HER TO COME AND HELP ME!" THE LORD ANSWERED HER, "MARTHA, MARTHA! YOU ARE WORRIED AND TROUBLED OVER SO MANY THINGS, BUT JUST ONE IS NEEDED. MARY HAS CHOSEN THE RIGHT THING, AND IT WILL NOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER."

Lord, to be quite honest, most of us here today, feel like Martha - upset, preoccupied, worried, overwhelmed, and over-loaded with so much work left to do. We've just raced the clock to get our marking in on time, to finish up first semester, and we're rushing around trying to get ready for Second Semester which is fast approaching. Our minds are racing with so much to to do, and so little time to do it in.

So....we come to You today, Lord, to ask You to grant each one of us the Spirit of 'Mary', who chose the right thing - to pause a while in Your Presence, to sit at Your Feet, and listen to Your Teaching.

Help us to free ourselves of all concerns, worries, and unsolved problems about Second Semester. Calm our tired minds, and guide us as we greet our Retreat with an open mind, heart, and soul. May we listen carefully and reflectively to Your Words spoken through the Eucharist, and through one another.

May we also relax, enjoy, and treasure the solidarity of one of the few times we come together as ONE, UNITED AND WHOLE (NAME OF SCHOOL) STAFF. We invite You into our Retreat, Lord, and we ask that You bless our time together. May we look upon today as a new and inspiring beginning to Second Semester, as we listen together, share together, pray together, and later socialize together.

WE ASK ALL THIS IN JESUS' NAME.

AMEN