Reflection for October 6 Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 10:38-42

Gospel: 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.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Are we anxious and worried about many things?

The story of Martha is also our story. Are we not sometimes so busy with the daily grind of this temporary life that we no longer have enough time to pray and listen to Jesus? Many of us can be like Martha—busy with the concerns and attractions of this world. But what happens when our busyness becomes so consuming that we no longer have time to listen to the Lord?

When we become too preoccupied with worldly concerns, our relationship with God can slowly weaken. There can also be disintegration in our families, and problems can arise simply because we no longer make time to listen to Jesus. We must always remember that our earthly life is temporary. There is life beyond this present life, and we can best prepare ourselves for it by continually drawing closer to Jesus through prayer, silence, reflection, and the celebration of the Holy Mass.

Many modern parents today are often busy with their own worldly activities. They may hardly have enough time to care for, talk with, and counsel their children. Sometimes, they try to compensate for this lack of personal interaction by giving their children money and the latest gadgets. Yet no amount of money or material possessions can replace the presence, guidance, love, and time that our children need from us.

And what about us? What happens when, upon waking up in the morning, the first thing we reach for is our smartphone? What happens when we rush out of bed, eat our breakfast, and immediately become engrossed in our daily activities without first giving even a brief moment to God? Little by little, we may become so preoccupied with the things of this world that we become distant from Jesus without even realizing it.

But what if we began our day differently?

What if, upon waking up, we first took a moment to thank Jesus for the gift of another day? What if we prayed, became still, and listened to Him, even for just a brief moment? We can always make time for God when we truly desire to do so. And when we make that time, something beautiful happens within us: we become closer to Jesus, we learn from Him, and our hearts become more sensitive to His voice and to what He wants us to do.

When Jesus entered the village and went to the house of Mary and Martha, Mary took the time to sit at His feet and listen to Him. She was not concerned about being busy or accomplishing many things. She simply chose to be present with Jesus. By listening to Him, Mary received His words, learned from Him, and developed a much deeper friendship with Him.

Martha, on the other hand, was very busy preparing food for Jesus. Her desire to serve Him was not wrong. But in the midst of her busyness, she forgot something more important: Jesus

wanted her presence and her attentive heart. He wanted her, like Mary, to pause, listen, and be with Him.

Perhaps this is what Jesus is also gently telling us today: Do not allow our busyness to rob us of our time with Me. Do not allow the noise of the world to drown out My voice. Come to Me. Sit with Me. Listen to Me.

We may have many responsibilities. We may have families to care for, work to accomplish, problems to solve, and countless things to worry about. But none of these should make us forget the One who gives us the strength to face them all.

By listening to Jesus, we learn from Him and develop a much deeper friendship with Him. Prayer is not merely about speaking to God; it is also about becoming quiet enough to hear Him. The Holy Mass is not merely an obligation; it is an opportunity for us to encounter Jesus, receive His grace, and allow His presence to transform our lives.

Let us therefore learn from Mary. In the midst of our busy lives, let us find time to sit at the feet of Jesus. Let us put down our phones, quiet our minds, open our hearts, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us. For perhaps what our restless hearts need most is not another distraction, another possession, or another accomplishment, but simply more time with Jesus.

Do we still take time each day, even for just a brief moment, to pray, be still, and listen to our Lord? And when Jesus gently calls us to sit at His feet, are we willing to set aside our busyness and everything that distracts us so that we can hear His voice, receive His love, and allow Him to lead our lives?— Marino J. Dasmarinas