by Jim Manney
It struck me then very clearly that one who seeks the spirit of God in good works will find it better in prayer later on than the one who seeks God first in prayer and then in action, as we often do. Whoever, then, seeks and finds the spirit of Christ in good works makes much more solid progress than the one who seeks it in prayer alone; for one has him in affection and effect both. You must then mortify yourself and dispose yourself to gain all good by means of good works. For by this means you will perceive that this is a most excellent preparation for mental prayer. Let then your life be conducted in this manner, both with Martha and Mary, that is, made up of action and contemplation, pursuing the one for the other, and not one only for itself.