On this Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we find ourselves with sisters Martha and Mary, two women who have the blessing of entertaining Jesus in their home. Martha welcomes Jesus and immediately busies herself with preparations to make him comfortable; we assume she is preparing a meal. Mary, on the other hand, sits at the feet of the Lord to listen to him speak. In her frustration, Martha appeals to Jesus, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me” (Luke 10:40). Jesus’ response, “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), often is interpreted as a rebuke.
Remember, however, that in the eyes of Jesus, Martha is as beloved as Mary. Her anxiety does not insult the Lord; rather, he is moved with compassion and reminds her that she also can lay down her burdens and listen to the Word of God. That same invitation is for us who live in a rushed world that insists that our worth is measured by how busy we are – busy earning a living, busy serving in the community, busy tending to friends and family, and busy with those smart phones we carry with us everywhere. We also live in a time in which we have much about which to worry – wars and violence, people in need and in fear, inflation, bills to pay, and on and on.
Reflection: Each of us is a beloved child of the most high God, and he just wants to spend time with us, so that our faith will be renewed and our service to our brothers and sisters will be powered by love.
