16th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C
"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) These words of Jesus to Martha as we heard in today’s gospel reading sounds like words we need to hear today in our world. We live in a very busy and noisy world with its distractions, temptations and frustrations. Jesus reminds us with those words of the need to slow down and listen to him amidst the hustle and bustle of life. Oftentimes we are overburdened with everything going on in our lives and around us and we fail to hear the voice of God in those times we need Him the most. Jesus in his response to Martha saying ‘there is need of only one thing’ clearly points out to us one of the most important aspects of our call to discipleship and one of our greatest needs in our world today, which is what Mary was doing and that is, listening to Jesus. Mary’s action in the gospel reading exemplifies what discipleship entails which is welcoming the word of God in our lives by listening to Jesus so as to live out his gospel. Mary’s action as well emphasizes the remedy for the distractions, trials, persecution, criticisms, frustrations and disappointments we experience in our world today. Martha’s actions are the complete opposite and that is why Jesus called her attention to it. How often do we quiet the noises in our lives and around us by listening to God speak to us in our prayers, Masses, scripture readings, devotions, meditation and even contemplation? How attentive are we to hearing God’s voice speaking to us? Do we welcoming and accept the Word of God in our lives today? What do we do with the Word of God we have heard, do we suppress it, stifle it or help it bear fruit in us? Do we truly listen to God speaking to us?
My brothers and sisters, let us chose the better part like Mary by listening to God, accept his Word into our lives and ask him to help us put his word into action in our world today.
