REFLECTIONS TODAY
Today the Church honors St. Francis of Assisi. The saint’s ideals with regard to love of the poor, peace, and care of the environment remain to be relevant in our time. These ideals he lived out sprang up from his greatest desire to emulate Jesus.
Today’s Gospel narrates the story of Martha and Mary. Jesus comes in to their house. Martha does the serving, while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet. What does it mean to sit at the master’s feet? This is a biblical expression which conveys the message that any disciple who sits at the feet of the master wants to become like the master he or she listens to. In the end, Jesus refers to what Mary does as the better portion of the “only one thing” needed. The one thing needed is to follow the Lord. We need to emulate his deeds. But before we are able to do that, we first need to listen to his words.
Do we follow the Lord by emulating his deeds? How often do we listen to his words? Do we love the poor, work for peace, and care for the environment?
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.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.