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16th Sunday of Year C – 2022

Usually, the followers of Christ want to please God and they make special efforts to live as he wants them to.
In general, Christians try to imitate Jesus as they see him in the gospel and they try to be faithful to what God expects of them.

Prayers, devotions, sacrifices, penance in different forms – all these are part of the means in use.
But often, people ask themselves whether they have chosen what is best…
Are they, in fact, using the right way, the proper ritual, the correct words to address God?

Today’s gospel message (Luke 10:38-42) may come as a relief to many.
We hear Jesus reassuring Martha in these words:

“Few things are needed, indeed only one.”

Amazing, really!
Truly astonishing and… comforting!
But what is this ONE thing?

Described as “the better part”, it is shown in Mary’s attitude: simply being present to God.
Could it be that simple?

We cannot doubt Jesus words: they are direct and clear.
It is not a question of words to say, or things to be done.

It is a question of being – being there with God and for God.
Being attentive to what he tells us,
open to what he asks from us,
ready to receive what he offers us.

And then?… The rest is up to him!
It is worth trying!…
 
Note: A video, in English, presents the scene of this gospel text at: https://youtu.be/mRe14dfXf6c

Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/16e-dimanche-de-lannee-c-2022/

 

Source: Image: Pinterest

16th Sunday of the Year, C

Martha, againComparisons, contrasts – they are part of our daily life and in all kinds of situations.
From them, a judgement arises deciding that things are different, equivalent, or plainly opposite!

The texts of the liturgy of this Sunday (16th, year C) present us with situations that reflect this.
In the 1st reading (Gn.18:1-10), we hear Abram telling his wife Sarah to hurry and prepare some food for the visitors who have come to their house.

The gospel scene (Lk.10:38-42) shows us a woman, Martha, doing exactly that for the special visitor who has come to their home.
But the visitor, Jesus, is the one now inviting his host NOT to hurry, not to fret about preparing food for him.

Jesus wants Martha to attend to him, yes, but attend to him by simply being there!
He insists that only one thing is necessary – that of sitting at his feet and listening to him, as her sister Mary is doing.

The comparison made between her and her sister must be somehow unwelcome to Martha.
She must find it unpleasant to be told to do what Mary does when Martha wanted the opposite: that Mary does a bit of the work that she, Martha, has been busy with.

It is somehow as if Jesus turns things around.
Last week, the gospel message was that we should not ask who is our neighbour but rather of whom we should make ourselves the neighbour.
This week, Jesus received as a guest in Bethany is the one inviting Martha to be his guest – a guest to whom he offers the most precious food: a sharing in his message about who he is, who the Father is.

No need to worry and to fret – that food is always ready, always available, and sufficient to satisfy all our needs!

Source: Image: blog.sina.com.cn