July 17, 2022 WORD Sunday Reflection

WORD

"It is he whom we proclaim,

admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,

that we may present everyone perfect in Christ" (Colossians 1: 28).

"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).

OBSERVE

Paul claimed that the content of his proclamation is Jesus.

In the previous verses of the reading, he reminded his readers that he suffered willingly so that he might bring to completion the Word of God in his communities.

In the Gospel, Jesus reminded Martha that Mary has "chosen the better part," that is, Mary knew that to listen to the Word of God is more important than any other tasks.

Nowadays, we are hearing a lot about so many things. Some these are good but plenty of these bad news.

We have the looming price hike in basic commodities due to inflation, the weakening of the Philippine peso against US dollar, low wages and political uncertainties among many others.

There are lot of dire predictions connected to climate change, the proposal to legalize divorce, and even abortion.

Then there is the preoccupation of trying to make our Catholic Faith relevant to the present time.

Thus, there are talks about ordination of women deacons, the blessing of same-sex couples, and the clericalization of the laity which we can see in the results of the German Synod on Synodality.

In all these, are we truly listening to God?

Or are we like Martha who is so busy with making ourselves relevant to the world at the cost of ignoring what the Lord is telling us?

RESPOND

Lord Jesus Christ,

You have reminded Martha that you are the "better part."

Bless all of us that we may not loss our focus on you

amidst the many tasks set before us.

May we truly listen to you and not to the world with its falsity.

Help us reject those teachings and way of thinking that separates us from you.

Amen.

DISCERN

There are many things that wants to capture our attention. It is important that we are able to discern what should we pay attention to.

There is the temptation to listen to every gossip, attend to all invitations, and to work on so many projects at the same time.

It is no wonder that many people find their identity, who they are, with what they can do.

How can we be like Mary of Bethany who is able to discern what is essential?

Is the Church nowadays like Mary of Bethany who listen to Jesus?

Or is the Church like Martha who is so busy attending and listening to every demands of the world, that she is no longer choosing the better part?