THROUGH UNTRUE
Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P.
In our gospel reading today, Mary sits idly listening to Jesus while her sister Martha is doing all the work. Martha complains: "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me" (Luke 10:40).
The answer of Jesus sounds like a reprimand: "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" (Luke 10:41).
Does Jesus praise Mary for doing nothing? Definitely not. He sees Mary's "laziness" as an act of defiance against the tyranny of work. This is a timely reminder for us, hyperactive people who falsely believe that work is the main purpose of living. If we are not working, we think we are worthless. So we work harder and longer, even becoming multitaskers. We do many things simultaneously, usually resulting in haphazard or mediocre results.
The youth are also initiated early into this work cult. When they are not in school, parents enroll them in tutorial classes. When not busy with sports or studies, they use up their time for social networking, surfing the internet, Netflix, music videos, or playing video games. Their minds are in perpetual overdrive as they look for the latest fads, gadgets, and sensory stimulants. Unable to delve deeper into the meaning of current issues and events, their minds become a collage of superficial opinions, tastes, and even fake news.
Hardworking people are set up by society as models for emulation. They are people with a purpose, and they devote time and effort to achieve it. Martha is a woman with a purpose. She does everything to make Jesus feel welcome and comfortable. But Jesus reminds Martha of a very important lesson. In the words of Bob Adams: "Purpose without priority is pointless." Jesus praises Mary because she wisely situates her purpose within a well-balanced set of priorities.
The word "priority" means first in your list, the most important, the one thing that is necessary and worth doing now. Is what you are doing in line with your priorities? If not, even if you waste all your time and effort on it, you will never accomplish much. Mary's priority is to listen to Jesus's words of wisdom. In their house where everyone is busy preparing many things, she lavishes her time and attention on Jesus. By focusing on this one task, she feels a great sense of fulfilment in the end.
Martha and Mary taken together are what Jesus wants us to become. It is not enough that we have a purpose. We must be able to situate this purpose within the set of priorities that we have set for ourselves.
For instance, if your purpose for attending Sunday mass is to feel the presence of Jesus, your first priority is to make time for it. Don't be a spectator. Be a participant. Don't just observe what is going on, but make every moment an encounter with Jesus so you can say in the end: "I did not receive communion. I experienced communion!"
Purpose without priority is pointless. Let us ask the Lord to help us imitate the example of Martha, who is determined to achieve her purpose, but let us think like Mary, who wisely orders her life according to a proper sense of priorities.