July 21, 2019

Active and contemplative. At work and at rest. These are dynamics we all face in our lives, and if we're honest, we might not always balance perfectly! In this Sunday's Gospel, our daily tensions play out in two sisters. Mary "sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak." Martha, on the other hand, is "burdened with much serving." This, as it turns out, is not necessarily "the better part."
All of us reading this have some sort of labor we engage in. We have different trades or careers. We have responsibilities as family members, some of which may take up most of our time. In the time of Scripture, showing hospitality to guests was one of the most important values in society. Our work is important. Jesus himself spent decades as a carpenter. So what's the prob-lem with Martha? Martha is burdened, anxious, and worried. Not only that, but she resents her sister's choice. "Tell her to help me," she demands of Jesus.
How easy it is to get very busy doing good things. We need to provide for our families and plan for retirement. We need to make sure children are clothed, fed, and educated. Our commit-tees, ministries, and sports schedules need to stay on track. However, without a balance of work with rest, without contem-plation in the midst of our action, we will miss the point. While many parts are required for our life in the world to function, the better part is our relationship with God. This week, make time in your busy schedule to sit at Jesus' feet. Maybe this is 20 minutes with Scripture, participating in a daily Mass, or a quiet walk alone in the park. Receive what Christ wants to speak to you.
©LITURGICAL PUBLICATION