RBWords

  

     I admit that I usually print Jesus' response to Martha's prayer!  And it is indeed a prayer!  That response, of course, begins: "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things..."  Martha's prayer is uttered by many caring hosts and hostesses!  It resembles the prayer of the disciples in that sinking boat!  "Lord, do you not care that we are perishing?"  In both cases, Jesus chides the pray-er!  One wonders if it could all be summed up in:  "Don't worry!"

 

     The scene with Martha and Mary comes after a series of very active parables, including that of the "Good Samaritan!"  Martha would seem to be the perfect disciple!  Yet it is Mary who receives praise in this scene! 

It may be the perfect scene for our frenetic and frantic American culture.  I hear constantly in the confessional, "I just don't seem to have any time for prayer!" 

 

     It really seems to be a matter of priorities.  We are NOT invited to ignore our neighbor in their need.  We ARE invited to continually renew the reasons WHY we should help our neighbor in their needs.  We can become so active that we forget why we're active in the first place.  It is that "first place" - the place at the Lord's feet - that receives attention today.  Where are we sitting?  AMEN