Saturday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time (July 29, 2017): Memorial of Saint Martha.

Thứ Sáu, 28-07-2017 | 15:55:25

Today’s Readings:

Exodus 24:3-8 
Ps 50:1b-2,5-6,14-15
John 11:19-27 or Luke 10:38-42
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072917.cfm

USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/17_07_29.mp3 


John 11:19-27

Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary
to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died].
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming,
she went to meet him;
but Mary sat at home.
Martha said to Jesus,
“Lord, if you had been here,
my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that whatever you ask of God,
God will give you.”
Jesus said to her,
“Your brother will rise.”
Martha said to him,
“I know he will rise,
in the resurrection on the last day.”
Jesus told her,
“I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?”
She said to him, “Yes, Lord.
I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,
the one who is coming into the world.”

Or Luke 10:38-42

Jesus entered a village 
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. 
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? 
Tell her to help me.” 
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.”


Martha said to Jesus, “I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” (From Saturday’s Gospel reading)

Reflection for Saturday: Martha wasn’t too busy; she just enjoyed being proactive

The sisters Martha and Mary had two different ways of seeking help from Jesus. Mary was contemplative: She quietly listened. Martha was proactive: She told Jesus exactly what she wanted from him, which bad situation needed to be corrected and who should be healed. (“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But you can still do something about it.”) Is that bad — really?

We do the same thing. It’s an honest conversation. And Jesus appreciates our frankness. In fact, I believe he smiles when we take the time to entrust him with our details. Sure he already knows them (better than we do). Some of the best miracles happen after we envision the details of what God’s intervention could look like and we’re bold enough to ask for it.

However, when the asking comes with the implication that we understand the situation better than God does, or when we’re inflexible about the details, or when our interest in the details extends to God’s timing and we think he’s late, it’s time to sit still and listen like Martha’s sister Mary.

The most successful way to live as a Christian is to proactively move forward in what we believe should happen but with the trust in God that comes from times of quiet prayer. Take a step in faith after prayerful reflection and discernment. (This is good advice also for those of us who enjoy being proactive so much that we tend to push too many steps forward, too fast, or in too many directions.)

© 2017 by Terry A. Modica

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