GOSPEL POWER | JULY 29, 2021 |  THURSDAY |  St. Martha of Bethany |  17th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel:  Lk 10: 38 – 42 (or Jn 11: 19 – 27)

As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Reflection

Jesus is not comparing what Martha and Mary are doing,  but how they are doing it. From this perspective, the  “better part” implies wholehearted engagement. Both women  are fulfilling necessary aspects of hospitality — to serve the guest and  to be with the guest. Mary does her part with undivided attention… wholeheartedly. But Martha performs her part grudgingly and  distractedly, because she resents doing it alone. Wholeheartedness is honoring the present moment in whatever we do — whether  we pray, play, or work, all of which are important for a balanced  life. Wholeheartedness recognizes every activity as kairos — the everlasting now, where the “I AM” presence can be encountered. Our  multi-tasking generation has to learn how to “choose the better part” — to engage in our activities with wholehearted dedication, lest we all  end up like Martha, overstressed and grouchy

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help us to fulfill our duties wholeheartedly by putting love  into everything that we do. Amen