The Better Part

October 9, 2007

Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Every man shall turn from his evil way and from the violence he has in hand. Jonah 3:8

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 10:41-42

Piety

Let us pray: Gracious and loving Father, help us to turn away from our sins of indifference, selfishness and violence. Brother Jesus, guide us with your friendship, wisdom and sacrifice so that we may choose the better part as we listen to your Word. Holy Spirit, comfort us with your protection as we heed the message and perform works of charity toward all and malice toward none. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/100907.shtml

Too often, we listen for what we want to hear and miss the main point. St. Luke has constantly reinforced the theme of listening and acting upon the instructions from the Lord throughout his gospel. In today’s story, he related how Jesus wants us to be faithful listeners, like Mary, and cheerful servants, unlike Martha.

After all the admonitions, as St. Luke tells this story, there is no surprise that he says that Mary has “chosen the better part.” Listening and learning the Word of God must come before action. Otherwise the action will be just a good deed and not have anything to do with building the Kingdom.

However, listening alone is not the whole mission. There is something else needed and we have heard that throughout Luke’s Gospel. The other part is action – charity – love. This chapter began with the metaphor that the “laborers are few.” More people are needed to carry out the work needed.

Martha is learning that lesson the lard way. She knows the implications of having few laborers. She wants help so she asks the Master to command Mary to assist her. However, she does not get her way.

In addition to reinforcing the message of listening and acting, the incident also reinforces the primary role that women had in Christ’s earthly ministry. Earlier, Luke recounted the presence of “Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them [the disciples] out of their resources.” (Luke 8:2-3) Women also are pictured through the Gospel of Luke with the highest degree of faith (like the woman who touched Jesus’ robe just seeking to be cured while he was on his way to cure Jarius’ daughter). In today’s reading, a Jewish woman in Palestine sits at the feet of the Master in the position of a disciple.

Action

Today, try to incorporate both parts of Jesus’ command: listen and act.

Each day, in our study, we try to search the scriptures to discover the hidden treasure that Christ and the prophets have left behind for us. This is one way of listening to the message.

Now, what kind of action are you called to do? To what fields are you being sent to assist the “laborers” who are few in number? Maybe like Martha, you are called to provide the service of hospitality. Maybe like Mary, you are called to be an attentive student and disciple. Or perhaps, like the people in Jonah’s Gospel, we are just being asked to turn away from our evil ways. What is one of your sins that you can turn away from today?