Choices

Tuesday of the Twenty seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Readings for Tuesday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Gal 1:13-24

Responsorial Psalm Ps 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

Gospel Lk 10:38-42

Reflection:

We have two interesting stories today. First, Paul is telling the Galatians about his own conversion experience. He goes into some detail about his initial call to Judaism and then his conversion following that with his travels having first gone to Damascus. He was on his own for three years before ever going to Peter (Cephas) and linking up with the newly developing Church.

Paul understood that, even though he had been called in a miraculous way to serve the Lord, he needed to be part of the one faith that Jesus started with his Apostles. Paul understood, and later went into great detail about the need for the Church to be unified. Today we hear of the beginning of that philosophy.

In the Gospel, we hear the story of Martha and Mary. It is the classic beginning of the relationship with that family. Once more we hear Martha, who is doing the traditional work of hospitality while her sister sits at the Lord’s feet, listening to Jesus.

Since Jesus is the main guest, Martha goes to him and asks him to have her sister help her to serve the other guests, to prepare the food and clean up after them. I am sure she was rather put out when Jesus told her; “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.”

Let’s take a close look at that statement. He starts with … you are anxious and worried about many things. He is of course referring to taking care of the guests, right? Or is he? Could he be referring to her entire state of mind? What does that do to the remainder of what he says?

Next Jesus says; “There is need of only one thing.” It seems clear that he is referring to the Good News, the word he is spreading. He makes it clear that what he is doing must be a person’s single most important priority.

He closes with; “Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” Jesus tell Martha that Mary has made the right choice and the Lord will not try to dilute his message by taking that from her.

In this short passage we are taken from the practical to the spiritual. When first we hear Martha’s complaint, it is so human. It is something that we who have had multiple children have heard ourselves. One complains that the other is not doing enough or their share. In this story, Jesus tells Martha that, even though traditional wisdom from a parent might operate differently, he will not tell Mary to change her choice. She has made the choice that we are asked to make, and frequently we make the Martha choice.

Pax