Feast of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus.

"Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “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 10: 40 - 42).

Thursday 29th July 2021, in the 17th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Friends of Jesus.

Martha was so anxious to offer Jesus her renowned gift of hospitality that she missed the big picture: gift of the word of God which Jesus brought to her home.
Allow God to bless you with His gifts.

All who hears Jesus wondered at these gracious words. They marvelled at what the Lord was saying, reports the Gospel. Except one person today: the hostess, Martha too busy cooking and washing up dishes and pots.

"For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel:
By waiting and by calm you shall be saved, in quiet and in trust shall be your strength. But this you did not will."  (Isaiah 30: 15).
Mary seems to understand this condition.

In today's Gospel Reading, Jesus invites us to consider carefully our priorities. Martha hurriedly welcomed Jesus in her home and dived right back into the kitchen. When she emerged after some thirty minutes, she said: “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.”

How do you welcome the presence of Jesus in your home, Prayer? When you read the word of God? In the Blessed Sacrament and in the Eucharist? With an eye on your watch? Anxiously trying to anticipate the next deadline?

Is Martha the symbol of a Church distracted by many things? The compromising Church? Too busy to sit still and listen? How did the Church today got to be burdened by many distractions?  The Church that works and not pray is a weak Church.

"She [Martha] had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak."  (Luke 10: 39).

“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 10: 41 - 42).

"Jesus said to his disciples: “Hear the parable of the sower..... The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit."

Trust Jesus to guide and to provide.
"The time that remains after prayer, you will devote to the work of serving your brothers, to rest, and to the ordinary necessities of life, trusting in Me always to provide you with all that is necessary. Thus will you avoid the reproach addressed to Martha when I said, “You are busy about many things, but one thing alone is necessary.” (IN SINU JESU page 81).

Jesus promises the Church:
If you seek the Kingdom of God and its righteousness as a first priority, not only will I provide everything you need, My Holy Spirit will direct your work.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com