Luke 10:38-42

Genesis 18:1-10a

Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 5

Colossians 1:24-28

Luke 10:38-42

Jesus entered a village

where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.

She had a sister named Mary

who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.

Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,

“Lord, do you not care

that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?

Tell her to help me.”

The Lord said to her in reply,

“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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you visited Abraham and remade the covenant with him. You visit me and have brought me into the New Covenant. You promised Abraham land, and promise me the land of heaven. You promised Abraham a royal dynasty, and have made me your royal child through baptism. You promised Abraham that you would bless all nations through his descendants, and you have blessed me with the merciful love and grace of the Holy Spirit.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Better Part: In the Gospel, Jesus entered the village where there were two of his friends – Martha and Mary. Martha and Mary lived in Bethany, which was very close to Jerusalem. Martha took care of serving, while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet. Martha could have served the dozen or so people without being burdened by it. There is joy in serving when it is done with love. When we truly forget about ourselves and think about others and their needs first, anxiety and worry tend to dissipate. Mary, on the other hand, was attentive to Jesus’ words. Mary was in communion with God. Martha could have been in communion with God while serving, but she was consumed with the anxieties of this world. She was so concerned about all that she was doing and all that her sister was not doing. Her worry overcame her, and she was not truly in communion with God or Jesus. The better part is not sacrificing loving service to others so that we can have personal time for contemplation at Jesus’ feet. The better part includes: attentive listening to the voice of God, who will indicate with the Spirit when it is time for silent prayer, meditation, or service; remaining in communion with God in times of prayer and service; and serving our brothers and sisters not because we are concerned with how they will think about us but because we love them and are willing to sacrifice ourselves for them. 

2. The Hospitality and Service of Abraham and Sarah: The First Reading, from Genesis, was chosen to bring out the hospitality shown to the Lord God by Abraham and his wife, Sarah. Just as Abraham welcomed the Lord God for a meal and refreshment, so also Martha and Mary welcomed Jesus, God incarnate, into their home. The meal prepared by Abraham and Sarah follows the remaking of the covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17). God had introduced circumcision as the mark of the covenant and promised a royal dynasty to Abraham. “Meals are important covenant rituals. Covenants form unrelated persons into family members. Families eat together. It is a sign of communion and relationship. Having formed a covenant with Abraham, the Lord now appears to share a family meal with him. In this meal, Abraham is eager to serve the Lord and feed ‘them’ well. Do we really think these three angelic visitors needed material food? Instead, this meal is about what the Lord can do for Abraham: provide him a son and heir, in fulfillment of his covenant promises” (Bergsma, The Word of the Lord: Year C, 326-327).

3. The Redemptive Suffering of the Body of Christ: Paul’s Letter to the Colossians contains one of the more difficult verses to interpret. Paul writes: “In my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ.” It doesn’t make sense that Christ’s suffering was incomplete or imperfect in some way and needs to be added to by someone like Paul. The key to understanding the passage is that Paul sees his sufferings as belonging to the Body of Christ, the Church. We are able to join our sufferings, as members of the Body of Christ, to those of Christ. And just as Jesus’ sufferings had a redemptive value, so also our sufferings, united to those of Christ the Head, have value. Considering all three readings together, we can say that our Christian life has moments of loving service to others, attentive listening to Christ, and redemptive suffering. 

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I have welcomed you into the abode of my heart. I desire to place myself at your feet and hear your word today. Enable me to serve without worry or anxiety. I seek to do all things in your name and with your grace today.

Living the Word of God: How am I managing the twofold Christian task of service and prayer, self-giving and contemplation, doing the will of God and heeding the word of God?