16th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C

FAITH IN FOCUS:A TALE OF TWO SISTERS

We all know the story of the two sisters, Martha and Mary. When Jesus came as a guest, Martha complained that Mary was leaving her to do all the work in the kitchen and just sitting around talking and listening to Jesus. Surprisingly, Jesus came down on Mary’s side! Yet we all live our lives like Martha. We shave in the shower and listen to the news on the radio at the same time to save precious minutes. At traffic lights we join the queue with fewer cars so we can be off first. And we scour the supermarket checkouts to find the least dozy-looking cashier. We’ve become consumed with doing as much as we can as fast as we can. We’re not so much burnt out as burnt up, consumed with activity. However, we rarely stop to ask ourselves why we are doing what we are doing and whether our priorities are right.

Of course, we have to work. And we have to prepare meals if we invite people round to eat. But, just for a moment, forget about the work you have to do to earn a living. How do you spend the rest of your time? What are your priorities? Does God feature in them? Do you pray or read the bible or is watching the soap operas more important? Do you ever just try and sit back for a few moments in God’s presence? Do you have a sense of the spiritual? Of God being at your side in all that you do? Do you ever try to listen to what God might be saying to you in the events of your daily life? Do you try to process your activity?

The Greek word that describes Martha being distracted actually means “pulled here and there by one thing and the next”. Sometimes in our flurry of activity that’s exactly what happens to us. Our rushing around becomes an escape from reality. We find refuge in being busy. It seems to validate our existence but really it stops us from asking deeper questions about our life’s direction.

Jesus speaks Martha’s name twice. “Martha, Martha, you worry and fret about so many things…” What a lovely reassurance of how fond he is of her! And what a reminder that from time to time we have to stop hiding behind activity and challenge ourselves at a more thoughtful level.

Have a good week,

Fr Brett