First Reading – Genesis 18:1-10 |
Second Reading – Colossians 1:24-28 |
Gospel – Luke 10:38-42
Theme: Hospitality, Listening, and the Better Portion
This week’s Gospel brings us into a warm and familiar household — the home of Martha and Mary. I can’t help but imagine what it would have been like to be there. Jesus, the friend and teacher, drops in. Martha immediately gets busy — maybe she rushes to the kitchen, maybe she tidies up. She wants everything to be perfect for the Lord. Meanwhile, Mary sits. She simply sits at Jesus’ feet, listening.
And it’s here that Jesus says something that always gives me pause:
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her.”
I’ll be honest with you; I relate to Martha. A lot. Maybe you do too. There are weeks where I’m running around from one thing to the next, work, errands, family obligations, answering emails, preparing meals, worrying about tomorrow. And somewhere in the middle of all that activity, I forget to sit. I forget to listen. I forget to be still with the Lord.
But Jesus isn’t scolding Martha for serving. He’s not saying, “Stop being responsible.” He’s not telling us to give up doing good things. Rather, He’s gently reminding her, and us, that even good things can distract us from the best thing: His presence.
Hospitality is a beautiful and sacred act. In fact, in our first reading from Genesis, Abraham shows generous hospitality to three visitors, who turn out to be messengers of God. That story teaches us that when we welcome others, we might just be welcoming God Himself.
In the Gospel, Jesus is already in the house. But while Martha is focused on serving Him, Mary is focused on being with Him.
So here’s the question that hits home for me:
Am I so busy doing things for Jesus that I forget to be with Jesus?
That’s the heart of today’s message. It’s not about whether you’re more like Martha or more like Mary most of us are some combination of both. It’s about balance. About making space. About choosing the “better portion” time with God that no one can take away.
And let’s remember, Jesus loved both Martha and Mary deeply. Martha was the one who, in another Gospel scene, makes a powerful profession of faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Both sisters were disciples. Both served. But this moment in Luke’s Gospel is a reminder to make time for the quiet, for the listening.
This past week, I found myself overwhelmed by a dozen small things. You know those weeks when everything feels urgent and nothing seems to slow down. But then, in a quiet moment, I opened Scripture. Just ten minutes. And I realized how starved I was for that silence. For that presence. That time even if short became my “better portion.”
And don’t we all need that? Whether you’re raising kids, working long hours, caring for loved ones, or simply navigating a hectic world you need time to sit at the feet of Jesus. Time to listen. Time to rest.
Now, I also want to say this: the Church needs Marthas. The ones who show up early to prepare for Mass, who clean, organize, cook, serve, and support. The world needs action-oriented people the “doers.” Families, parishes, and communities can’t run without them. But even Marthas especially Marthas need time to recharge their souls.
The story of Martha and Mary isn’t about choosing one or the other. It’s about making room for both. It’s about knowing when to serve and when to stop and listen.
And as we reflect on this, let’s look to another Mary the mother of Jesus as our model. She listened to the Word of God and treasured it in her heart. And then she acted. She went in haste to help Elizabeth. She stood by Jesus at the Cross. She lived both contemplation and service, united in love.
So, as we go into this new week, let’s ask ourselves:
- When was the last time I sat quietly with the Lord?
- Am I allowing the noise and busyness of life to drown out His voice?
- Can I find a few minutes each day to choose “the better portion”?
Let’s strive to be people who serve with love like Martha and listen with love like Mary. And in both, may we recognize the divine presence that wants to dwell in our homes, in our hearts, and in the quiet corners of our everyday lives.
Amen.