Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gn 18:1-10a/ Col 1: 24-28/ Lk 10:38-42
Martha was “anxious and worried about any things.”
We all know what that’s like. We’re busy. We have lists of things to do. We might have an electric, handheld, life saving reminder that beeps before our next appointment. We accomplish a lot. What if someone drops in or wants to set up a meeting or a meal? We can do that. Send me an e mail.
I’ll put you on the schedule-add you to the list.
In today’s reading from the Genesis, it looks like Abraham would understand the modern pace of hospitality too. Unexpected guests show up. He runs from the tent to greet them. He hastens back to the tent to ask Sarah to prepare it.
Abraham and Sarah’s house looks like ours.
It can take a lot of us to keep up pace of out lives. And now Jesus pushes to do something even harder. Martha welcomed Jesus and his fellow travelers into her home. She was busy doing what a good hostess does. Mary just sat there. Jesus says she chose the better part.
Jesus’ challenge is about priorities. It’s about really being present with the people we’re with. Do we dare do that these days? Do we dare park the car, sit still, let the answering machine take the call, drop the TV remote and look at the other person sitting there? Can we turn off the computer, take out the ear plugs, and ignore the email?
This is subtle. We’re used to being distracted without noticing it. We do accomplish a lot. A lot of that stuff does need to be done.
But why? What is the better part?
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: It seems that Jesus was praising Mary and criticizing Martha. Perhaps he was merely suggestion that Martha should join Mary. Or, again perhaps, he was hoping that they would share the house work and the prayer session. Something for all of us to consider.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.