Cycle C - Year I:

21 July 2019: Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Color: Green)

Readings:

First Reading: Genesis 18:1-10a

Second Reading: Colossians 1:24-28

Gospel: Please Read Luke 10:38-42

Have we chosen the better part?

It's a new day, thank You Lord! How do we start a typical day? As we wake up do we rush to get things done for the day? Or, do we pause a moment to first plan and organize our activities? Do we have the habit of beginning our day in prayer, to thank the Lord for the gift of another day?

The Gospel this Sunday narrates an incident in our Lord's public life that provides valuable lessons on how we can witness and live our faith in daily life.

Jesus is in Bethany visiting with friends. He loves to visit the home of sisters Martha and Mary and enjoys their warm hospitality. The sisters welcome Him in their house. Now while Martha is bustling about the house and trying to provide hospitality to their special Guest, Mary is sitting at Jesus' feet listening to His teachings. So naturally Martha complains, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me." (Lk 10:40)

But our Lord said to Martha in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chose the better part and it will not be taken away from her." (Lk 10:41-42) Now, notice that Jesus didn't tell her it was the best part. He said it was the "better part".

In our Christian living, we might easily identify with Martha with our very busy lives. We, too, welcome Jesus in our hearts. But soon after we are distracted by a great many things. Because there is just too much that needs to be done, in work and in our family with its many demands. And so it seems difficult to find time for good, solid meditative prayer. That is why perhaps we do not hear the quiet whispering of God in nature, in silence, in another person, in His Word, in the depths of our hearts, and so do not receive the only nourishment we need. And yet, "One thing is only needed", Christ tells us, and it is Him in our heart.

Now while "service" is an important part of discipleship, Jesus teaches us to set our priorities right. The "better part" chosen by Mary in the Gospel narrative is Jesus Himself.

Thus, listening to the word of God is an important thing in our lives. Because what the Lord wants of us, first of all, is to be close to Him, put our trust in Him amidst our daily concerns. And time spent in prayer is always important. When it comes to our spiritual life, prayers and meditation are critical. We hold up to the Lord our daily activities and scrutinize them in the light of His teaching, in order for us to see what needs to be strengthened or discarded. In this way we are able to see what is leading us closer to Jesus, or taking us away from Him.

God speaks to us constantly. But then we have to leave our worries and distractions behind, and sit quietly at His feet to listen to our Lord Jesus. Only then will we receive the "better part" and the promise that it will not be taken from us. Only then will we produce "fruits" with patient endurance.

Anxiety and preoccupation keep us from listening and from giving our Lord our undivided attention. The Lord bids us to give Him our concerns and anxieties because He is trustworthy and able to meet any need we have. His grace frees us from needless concerns and preoccupation.

So now, do we seek the Lord attentively in our lives? And does the Lord find a welcomed and honored place in our house? Do we always take time daily even for a brief moment to pray and listen to our Lord Jesus Christ?

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!