TUESDAY HOMILY – 27th WEEK IN ODINARY TIME – YEAR A

TUESDAY HOMILY – 27th WEEK IN ODINARY TIME – YEAR A

BY: DEACON BILL FRERE

THEME” A Little Help, Please!
Lunch (leftovers), Upper Galilee

Gospel – Luke 10:38-42

Over the years, Ginger and I have developed a certain rhythm when meals are prepared and we clean up afterwards. It is almost a dance, movements without words or collisions. We know our individual responsibilities and we quietly and quickly clean up in a matter of just a few minutes. No muss, no fuss, no arguments! Why does that matter? Because working together on our physical jobs and getting them done means that we can then step back, catch our breath and focus on our spiritual tasks together – prayer and reflection!

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Quite a change from when we were little and every chore involved a long drawn-out, one-sided conversation/battle! Somebody give me a hand with setting the table! Someone help with putting the laundry away! It would help if you kept your room clean! Do I have to do all the work around this house? A little help would be appreciated!

We have all had that experience and most of the time we were the ones on the receiving end. We were busy doing something else and couldn’t be bothered unless and until Mom or Dad nagged us into pitching in and doing our fair share.

Something similar is going on in today’s Gospel. Jesus is at Mary and Martha’s for dinner. Martha is busy with serving but Mary chooses to just sit and listen to Jesus. Martha is upset and complains to Jesus that Mary is not helping. You would think that Jesus would have been more understanding with Martha but NO! Instead He tells Martha that Mary has chosen wisely. You are focusing on the wrong thing! The work can wait; your stress can wait. Take a breath, calm down and focus on what is really important! I don’t think Jesus is actually downplaying the contributions of the Martha’s of this world. Rather I believe He is asking her/us to find/make a balance in our lives, in our human lives and in our spiritual lives.

All of us are busy, all of us would prefer to have more time to sit, reflect, and pray. Perhaps that can be our focus today – take some time away from the workaday world, step aside, take a deep breath, calm ourselves and LISTEN to His words and respond in prayer!

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