Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:

Jonah 3:1-10
Psalm 130:1-4,7-8
Luke 10:38-42


A reflection on today's Scripture:

Today's Gospel is the very familiar story of Martha and Mary. Martha is "slaving away" - so to speak - trying to make things pleasant for Jesus' visit, while Mary sits at Jesus' feet listening to Him.

What then does the Lord require of us: to be active in His service like Martha, or to just be still and listen, like Mary? The answer comes from Jesus Himself. He says, " Mary has chosen the better portion."

How are we to assimilate Jesus' response into =our= lives: reconciling our need and in fact our responsibility to be involved with things of the world, with our desire and need to be quiet and in solitude in His presence?

The answer comes from one of Christ's great saints and a Doctor of the Church: Teresa of Jesus (aka: Teresa of Avila). To her nuns, she counsels that to desire solitude and prayer in His presence is most desirable; but charity and obedience often demand that we relinquish solitude and actively respond to our responsibilities and the needs of others.

Let us then try to recognize the opportunities that God graces us with, not only to be quiet in His presence, but also those opportunities where we can best love and serve Him by being obedient and full of love for others.

- Donna Raye Nelson, OCDS