Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Luke 10: 38-42
July 20, 2025 | Sunday

Today’s Gospel

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he entered a village, and a woman called Martha welcomed him to her house. She had a sister named Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet to listen to his words. Martha, meanwhile, was busy with all the serving, and finally she said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work? Tell her to help me!”

But the Lord answered, “Martha, Martha, you worry and are troubled about many things, whereas only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Today’s Reflection

The sisters Martha and Mary were very good friends and devoted to Jesus, who often visited them at home. With Jesus as their guest, Martha was busy doing the many household tasks to be a good host. Upon seeing her sister, Mary, sitting and listening to Jesus, she complained that she was left to do all the work. Jesus gently chided her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is a need for only one thing. Mary had chosen the better part, which will not be taken from her.”

In praising Mary and chiding Martha, is Jesus saying that He prefers listening to doing or prayers to deeds? Is Jesus asking us to choose between prayer or contemplation on one hand and service and good works on the other? Apparently not, for Jesus Himself said that faith without works is worthless and acceptance of His word is expressed by putting it into action. Martha is working and rendering service to Him, ensuring He feels welcomed and provided with sustenance and comfort. His criticism is over her anxieties and apprehensions over things she had to do, which distracted her from the “only one thing . . . the better part” – being with Jesus and getting to know, love, and serve Him. He is pointing out that Martha’s fault was fretting about mundane matters like food while losing sight of why she was serving the Lord. Serious attentiveness to the Word is the core of our discipleship and the basis of our service to spread it. In reality, both are essential aspects of exercising our Christian faith, for prayers without action could be ineffectual, while actions untethered to values could be aimless or delusive. It is vital that we first get to know Jesus and assimilate His teachings to guide our actions and works and give meaning to them.

Oftentimes, the challenges of daily life could usher in many distractions that deter us from listening, understanding, accepting, and acting on the teachings of Jesus and His commands. In the busyness of our days, we always find time for regular prayers and Reflection and then incorporate the ways of the Lord in all that we say or do. Pray for the grace to harmonize and balance our Christian life’s contemplative and active dimensions, always being aware and focused on spiritual nourishment to reach our ultimate destination.

/Vulnerasti, 2025