First things, first... keeping your priorities straight
Reflections on the readings for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (July 21, 2019): GN 18:1-10; PS 15:2-3,3-4,5; COL 1:24-28; LK 10:38-42
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days
Last Sunday we heard the parable of the Good Samaritan and realized the necessity of loving and caring for our neighbor, whoever he or she may be. Now we encounter someone working hard to receive Jesus, no doubt along with some disciples, into her home and make them comfortable.
But Martha had no time for pleasure in His company because she was overwhelmed by everything she thought she had to do. And, even worse in her mind, her sister was not helping at all. “Martha welcomed Him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at His feet listening to Him speak. 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.’” (Luke 10:38-40)
Martha is so upset, she actually tries to make Jesus feel bad. Why doesn’t He care about her and her problems? Why doesn’t He fix things by making Mary do her duty? Poor Martha is fussing about everything and focusing on nothing that really matters. Her Friend and Teacher has come to stay with her family, but she has no time to spend with Him. So, while Christ acknowledged her feelings, He would not take away Mary’s choice to be with Him. Sometimes, we need to – we must – serve the needs of others. But our relationship with God must come first, whatever we are doing. We all need to take the time to stop and listen to what He has to tell us. He loves us and He wants to remind us of that every single day.
Suggested missionary action: Let us proclaim Jesus with our lives – through prayer and spiritual reflection and through our daily responsibilities. Our words and actions need to focus on what God asks of us, not our own preferences. We can ask St. Martha and St. Mary to help us remember that.
