WORD ALIVE FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD In the gospel of this 16th Sunday, we can discern two forms of spirituality as symbolized by the two sisters Martha and Mary. The busybody Martha symbolizes action or work, while Mary represents contemplation or prayer. * * * According to the gospel, Martha is so upset and preoccupied about preparing a nice meal. She has become high-strung, and even snaps at Jesus! I’ve always been amused of Martha how she even brashly orders Jesus, saying, "Lord are you not concerned that my sister has left me all alone to do the household tasks? Tell her to help me." Martha’s dealing with the Lord sounds like that of a “mulier fortis.” * * * Jesus did not lose his temper and could have shot back: “Don’t you know whom you’re ordering?” Instead, Christ gently reproves her saying: "Martha, Martha! You fret and worry about so many things, but just one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the better portion" (Lk 10, 41). * * * The Lord's statement obviously does not mean contempt for her household preoccupation nor her material concern. Christ is taking the opportunity to teach the busybody Martha — and present-day Christians — that we should not forget or neglect what’s “more important,” that is, our spiritual commitment. Jesus had said this before: “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” * * * There are many people who practice what Jesus said about “doing the better part.” Jeriel Solibio, a migrant worker in Aramco, Saudi Arabia, wrote me,” Fr., I always catch your 5 a.m. Family TV Mass here in Saudi even if I have to wake up at early 4 a.m. Then I proceed to my work. I find the Mass and God’s word as a spiritual food and strength.” Many Filipino migrants in Saudi do the same. * * * Then there’s a lawyer, Atty. Rolly Domingo who’s a member of the San Pablo Apostol Marriage Encounter Community. After office hours in Makati, he goes home to fetch his wife from Valenzuela, Bulacan then proceed to Marikina where they attend their evening mass and prayer meeting. Imagine the sacrifice he has to make, picking up his wife, finding his way through the horrendous “Thank-God-it’s-Friday” traffic. * * * There are numerous charismatic and renewal communities, too, like the Couples for Christ, Loved Flock, Lord’s Flock, PREX (Parish Pastoral Renewal) who value their spiritual “date” with the Lord. They are engrossed in their works but they reserve time for Holy Mass and scriptural enrichment. * * * The Sunday gospel is a timely reminder that in the midst of our works and preoccupations and frenetic drive to make more money, what matters most is our time for God. As the Lord said to Martha, “Martha, Martha! You fret and worry about so many things, but just one thing is needed” — time with the Lord and harmonize our action and contemplation. * * * Thank you… Class 1972 of Divine Word College-High School Legazpi, Albay for inviting me, former high school director, to your grand reunion and golden anniversary celebration with a Thanksgiving Mass last July 8. It was, indeed, a very memorable and nostalgic festivity since many of the classmates had not seen each other within 50 years! Thanks to the organizers Benjamin Baltazar, classmate Buitre, coordinator Chay Jaucian, and SVD Community headed by the president, Fr. Nielo Cantilado, SVD. * * * Support seminarians — A donor of our “Adopt A Seminarian” educational program wrote: "My sons have no vocation to the priesthood so I might as well help others to become priests." Dear readers, how about donating any amount for the schooling of seminarians or sponsoring a seminarian's scholarship good for one year? For inquiry, e-mail me at: [email protected] God bless.