6-Oct-15
October 6, 2015
Gospel LK 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:
Martha said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.”
Certainly, we have all experienced being invited to someone's home and the hostess has prepared the setting and meal to perfection. Yet, we spend the entire visit chatting with other guests, never having an opportunity to share a moment with the dear, busy friend who extended us the invitation.
Martha was a wonderful person. She "welcomed" Jesus and was concerned with providing the finest hospitality possible for him. But, in her desire to provide the best for her guest, she forgot the thing of most importance: the greatest gift we can give to another person is ourself.
Jesus replied to Martha by saying, "There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part....."
Perhaps you've heard the famous breakdown of the word J-O-Y!: - - "Jesus first, Others second and You last!"
When we spend time with Jesus through prayer, worship or study, our own spirit will be fed, and we will be better able to serve others.
"In your morning prayer each new day, ask your Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of his precious children." M. Russell Ballard