The Better Part

 

 

 Lk 10:38-42

 At the Home of Martha and Mary

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

The "Martha" in us often takes away from our needed "Mary Time" with Jesus.  Sitting quietly, prayerfully, seems like such a waste of time when there's so much to be done. We see the busyness as necessary, but God certainly doesn't. Since April, I have been forced into the Mary stance: no driving, sitting with legs elevated, and much time for prayer and reflection as a result. It's growing on me and I'm beginning to see the wisdom of this period.  It is a gift, one I hope will persist when my wounded ankle will be healed and I can get back to my normal routine, at least back to driving and serving in Campus Ministry. God's ways are not our ways, and often he makes dramatic moves to school us in them. May we be open to accepting what he is trying to teach us.

Bro. Rene

Lord, like Mary, help me to choose "the better part." Amen.