She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Our lives seem to be filled with busyness. We seem to live in a “Martha culture”. Sometimes there doesn’t seem to be an end to the things we need to do each day. It can be easy to lose sight of living in the present and instead, we focus on what needs to be done next or in the future. It can be common to find ourselves doing more than one thing at the same time. We call it multiplexing. We are able to talk on the phone, while doing something else. Even children have busy schedules, full of activities and sports. We can relate to Martha, getting a bit stressed out over having so many things to do. We use expressions like being “stressed out” or “burned out”. We know the effects that stress can have on our health and well-being.
On the other hand, we see Mary in today’s gospel, sitting at Jesus’s feet, seemingly very relaxed, without any concerns. Mary seems to fulfill today’s Psalm response, living in the presence of the Lord. While Mary seems to be the disciple of Jesus, Martha is also a disciple. Jesus is not criticizing Martha for her service. Jesus is cautioning her not to lose sight of what’s most important in being a disciple, Jesus himself. Even in the midst of our busy lives, activities and service to our family, community and church, the focus and center must always be Jesus Christ.
Listening to the Word of the Lord leads us to service. We draw strength from Jesus Christ in order to serve, especially through prayer, the sacraments and Sacred Scripture.
But now it has been manifested to his holy ones, 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. Only in Jesus Christ will we realize the glory that our God has planned for each one of us.
God bless us all always!
Deacon Mike