Listening to Jesus

After hearing the Gospel of the Good Samaritan, the Church places before us the simple down to earth story of Martha and Mary. What Martha was doing – providing hospitality for Jesus and his disciples – was indeed a very noble work, truly a ministry of hospitality. Jesus pointed out that more was needed – more time for prayer and reflection, more time for spiritual nourishment. We are called to be both Martha and Mary. Service without prayer and reflection becomes busyness, while prayer and reflection without service becomes routine and meaningless.

Today’s Gospel has a special message for us today. If we are going to sustain in our secular world a religious vision of life, even our best-intentioned activity will have to be balanced by and rooted in prayerful reflection on the Gospels and on the life and destiny of Jesus. To be truly good Samaritans we need to do what Mary did – sit at the feet of Jesus to listen and learn. Without that we will not even see those around us who are in need. Neither will we see Christ present in those who are in need, or be able to appreciate the dignity and value of the people we minister to. That is why the concept of the Small Christian Community is so important – to open our hearts to those who are in need by first opening our hearts to the Holy Spirit who will lead and guide us in all that we do.

There is a short story that may help us understand what Jesus speaks about in today’s Gospel. A young monk had questions about his orders motto: “Pray and work.” So one day the abbot invited him to row across the lake with him. The abbot rowed first, but with one oar. As a result the boat went in circles, and they made no progress. The young monk said: “Abbot, unless you row with both oars, you won’t get anywhere.” The Abbot replied, “You’re so right, son! The right oar is prayer, the left oar is work. Unless you use them together you just go in circles.” All who would carry out any ministry needs to give time to prayer and reflection. St. Augustine said: “Pray as if all depended on you.” Francis De Sales put it beautifully: “Each Christian needs half an hour of prayer each day, except when we are busy; then we need an hour.”

A short reflection called “My Daily Prayer” expresses the need and value of prayer. It states:

“If I can do some good today, If I can serve along life’s way,

If I can something helpful say,

Lord, show me how.

If I can right a human wrong, If I can help to make one strong,

If I can cheer with smile or song,

Lord, show me how.

If I can aid one in distress, If I can make a burden less,

If I can spread more happiness,

Lord show me how.

- Grenville Kleiser

“We often sense, quite accurately, that we are losing control of our lives; that our calendars and schedules dictate our tine; that our work and careers are defining who we are; that, in trying to maintain a certain quality of lifestyle we miss the essence of life itself. The “better part,” embraced by Mary, transcends the mundane and empty pursuits of the everyday that overwhelmed Martha; the better part sees the hand of God in all things and realized the gratitude of all creation owes its loving Creator for the very gift of life. Jesus invited each one of us to make a place in our lives for the ‘better part’ – the love and grace of God – that gives our lives joyful meaning and holy purpose.” (Connections, July 2001)