The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” – Luke 10:41-42

     I am undeniably a busy bee. When I am on a break from physical activity, brain activity takes over. This is why I sometimes find it difficult to focus on one thing at a time, and this is also a problem for me during my prayer time.

       I usually talk to God out loud when I pray. I like it this way because it keeps me aware that I am communicating with Him. But it never fails that in my prayer pauses, the tasks I need to do for the day or for the week penetrate my thoughts and interrupt my time with God. It’s like being on the phone with Him, and every now and then I tell Him, “Can You hold on for a second? I’ll be right back.”

       The Gospel today reminds me that I am Martha. The Lord comes to me in my prayer time, and instead of being still to listen to what He wants to say to me, I lose focus and let my mind wander. If I were in God’s shoes, I’d be so frustrated with me!

       To be more like Mary, to learn to let go of my worries and anxieties, and to give 100 percent of me when I am in His presence, this is my prayer today. Nova A. Sevilla (nova.svp@gmail.com)

Hospitality is a fundamental aspect of loving one another. It is basic to the living and proclaiming of the Gospel. Abraham is aware of this and he encourages Sarah to prepare some food for the visitors. There may be times when we already minister to angels without knowing it.

Genesis 18:1-10

1 The Lord appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre, as he sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot. 2 Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them; and bowing to the ground, 3 he said: “Sir, if I may ask you this favor, please do not go on past your servant. 4 Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet, and then rest yourselves under the tree. 5 Now that you have come this close to your servant, let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves; and afterward you may go on your way.” The men replied, “Very well, do as you have said.” 6 Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah, “Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls.” 7 He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. 8 Then Abraham got some curds and milk, as well as the steer that had been prepared, and set these before the three men; and he waited on them under the tree while they ate. 9 They asked Abraham, “Where is your wife Sarah?” He replied, “There in the tent.” 10 One of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son.”

Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 5

R: He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

2 One who walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart 3 and slanders not with his tongue. (R) Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; 4 by whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the Lord. (R) 5 Who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent. One who does these things shall never be disturbed. (R)

Paul teaches that our sufferings can have meaning when we unite them with those of Christ. There is nothing lacking in the nature of the passion of  Jesus. However, there is still the unfinished task of bringing the Good News to the ends of the earth. Our sufferings have a role to play here — we offer them to the Lord for the salvation of souls. There is no greater cause than the salvation of souls.

Colossians 1:24-28

24 Brothers and sisters: Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, 25 of which I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God, 26 the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past. But now it has been manifested to his holy ones, 27 to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope for glory. 28 It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

Mary sits at the feet of Jesus and savors His words. Martha is busy doing many things, most of which have not been asked of her. We need to avoid activity for activity’s sake and ensure that we focus on the will of God for our lives. This is what will bear the greatest fruit for the Kingdom of God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.

Luke 10:38-42

38 Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. 39 She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. 40 Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” 41 The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. 42 There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

think: Hospitality is a fundamental aspect of loving one another.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Ezra 6-10

SABBATH PAUSE

THANK YOU LIST

SPECIAL NEEDS

HIDDEN TREASURE

          ________________________________________________________________ 

CHOOSING THE BETTER PART

Luke brings us to Bethany, into the cozy home of the three siblings: Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Cozy and homely, until the peace was shattered by the shrill voice of Martha, but restored by the gentle reprimand of Jesus.

       This scene makes us aware of a profound truth that’s important for our spiritual growth. Equally important to what we can do for Christ is what we can be for Him and what He can be for us. Martha was doing a lot, and that was good. But Mary was listening to Him, being His close friend, and that was what Jesus called “the better part.” She chose to submit to the Lord, to let Him be for her what He in truth already is for everyone — a friend.

        Most of us are very busy, living in a very busy world. How often do we excuse ourselves saying, “Sorry, I am busy”? But Jesus is hoping that we will choose the “better part” — His friendship.

       In Mitch Albom’s moving book, Tuesdays with Morrie, the dying teacher, Morrie, told his former student, “Part of the problem, Mitch, is that everyone is in such a hurry. People haven’t found meaning in their lives, so they’re running all the time looking for it. They think they’ll find it in the next car, the next house, the next job. Then they find those things are empty, too, and they keep running.”

       You might also remember the wise words the Little Fox said to the Little Prince, “Men have no more time to understand anything. They buy things all ready-made at the shops. But there is no shop anywhere where one can buy friendship.”

       Choose the better part. It’s a matter of spending 10 minutes with Him before getting distracted with the day’s activities. It could be 10 minutes of reading and reflecting on a passage from the Bible. It could be praying a decade or two of the rosary before we turn on the TV. Jesus wants us to choose the better part — friendship with Him — to depend more on Him than on ourselves. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you doing a lot of things for the Lord but neglect just being with Him, listening to Him?

Lord, You know very well how busy we are in this modern world. Make me aware every day of the importance of just being with You to savor Your presence and friendship. Amen.