Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s Gospel story of Jesus visiting his dear friends Martha and Mary poses several age-old challenges in relationship dynamics and showing hospitality. How much energy do we give to providing for the physical wellbeing of another - through our welcome and providing a welcoming ambiance, food and drink? Alternatively, when is it most important to express our love and care by simply ‘being with’ the other by listening, fully being present and responding in conversation? Of course, good hospitality and friendship requires both. The challenge is to do either of the roles portrayed by Martha and Mary with kindness, graciousness and presence. Both are important ways of showing our love. In my experiences of living in community, being part of a family and working on teams, I can so identify with Martha’s frustration when she wasn’t feeling supported in the work she saw needed to be done. And I too sometimes make the mistake of complaining to a third person to address what I see as a problem, rather than directly inviting someone to help, or adjusting my expectations to focus on what is most important for the group at the moment. How I serve is as important as getting the tasks done. Jesus reminds Martha and each of us, that the quality of our listening and presence is vital. The image of Mary listening so attentively to Jesus, is a model for our prayer. The busier Jesus was, the more he took time out in a lonely place to pray and listen to his Father. We too are invited to a prayer of the heart - one of deep listening presence. We can be assured this time spent with Jesus will refresh and re-energize us for accomplishing the active work of our minds and hands that God sees as the priority. The beautiful Psalm 139 text of today reminds us of our God who loves and cares intimately for us through it all. We can be sure of God’s guiding presence with us.
-Sr. Leanne M Jablonski, FMI