Word to the Wise
Tuesday, October 4, 2016 - Tuesday in the 27th Week in Ordinary Time
[Gal 1:13-24 and Luke 10:38-42]"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]
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2016 ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
[Galatians 1:13-24 and Luke 10:38-42. These scriptures will vary at Franciscan and Dominican locations where this day is celebrated as a "feast" and not simply a "memorial."]
This wonderful story appears immediately after the parable of the Good Samaritan. In the parable we are urged to respond to the practical needs of our neighbor, even if that neighbor would ordinarily be alienated from us. It has an "activist" tone to it, and not a "contemplative" tone. This gave rise to a common interpretation of the scene in today's gospel scripture that claims Jesus' authority for the superiority of a "contemplative" life over an "active" life. This interpretation is mistaken but it hangs on. The interpretation adopted by Dominicans, Franciscans, Jesuits and other non-monastic religious orders is that both aspects are necessary for an effective disciple. This is particularly important in regard to preaching.
I think the activist interpretation has taken over in parochial settings where pastors find themselves besieged by administrative and institutional demands to the point where preaching is relegated to the bottom of the ladder. It becomes a matter of "triage" and preaching is not seen as the most important demand. The result shows in poorly prepared preaching or in preaching that comes from a "homily service" taken from the internet. The latter may be good in themselves but the preacher is not personally involved. Furthermore, the pastor/preacher suffers from the lack of contemplating the Word of God, in which Christ is truly present. When Jesus tells Martha that Mary has chosen the better part, I think Martha would do well to stop and join Mary for awhile. The same is true for anyone whose pastoral responsibilities require preaching. AMEN
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