Daily Reflections

October 4, 2011
All for the Lord

I am a person who finds it difficult to sit down and relax. There is always so much to do: teaching, spiritual direction and writing a book, articles for Kerygma and 31 reflections for Sabbath. And it is all for the Lord!
I can feel for Martha in today’s Gospel passage. All her efforts, her cooking and her preparations — it was all for the Lord whom she wanted to give the best dinner after He had come back from teaching the whole day.
How wrong she was! And how wrong I am!
When I hear Jesus gently scolding Martha, surely with a smile on His face, I feel He is talking to me also and maybe to many of those who read this reflection.
Yesterday’s parable of the Good Samaritan urged action, reaching out and helping a neighbour in need. But Luke sensed a danger: overactivity at the cost of quiet reflection and prayer. And so He put this scene of Jesus in the house of Martha and Mary immediately after the action - provoking parable. Both stories belong together; they are the two sides of the same coin called “life of a disciple.”
We live in a busy world. To sit down and relax can be easily interpreted by busy people as being lazy. But as disciples of the Lord, we will never be able to do the will of God if we do not “sit down at the feet of Jesus” like Mary and listen to His words of guidance and encouragement.
Even Jesus often went alone to the mountains to communicate in prayer with His Father. Strengthened by this intimate relationship with God, He emerged ready for the challenges that lay ahead. We, too, need such quiet times. Thanks to the Church for providing us with quiet adoration chapels, with places where we can sit down at Jesus’ feet. There we can pour out our hearts and allow God to fill them with His love.
Our heart are doomed to stop moving if they are not refilled by sitting regularly “at the feet of Jesus.”Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

Reflection Question:
How can I include in my busy schedule fixed times to “sit at the feet of Jesus” and listen to Him?

Lord, I am a busy “Martha” trying to do a lot for You. But today You remind me that all this work for You is doomed if I do not spend more time just sitting at Your feet. Thank You, Lord.

St. Domnina, pray for us.