SAINT BRUNO, PRIEST (OPTIONAL MEMORIAL)

Mary has chosen the better part. 

Anyone who has hosted an event in their home knows the feeling of running behind schedule on time-sensitive tasks. Imagine somebody telling you, “No rush on those things. Just sit with your guests and let them talk about what’s important to them. Maybe later you can think about the food.” Your eyebrows would go up, right?

That’s probably how Martha felt when Jesus praised her sister, Mary, for choosing to join the other disciples and listen to him instead of helping serve the meal. And yet, the account of this brief interaction ends rather abruptly with Jesus’ words: “Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her” (Luke 10:42). Jesus wanted Martha and Mary to be with him in the midst of the other disciples. While the responsibility of hosting was important, these women still needed to receive the “food” of the word of God and the encouragement of the broader Church—just as we do.

Another example of this principle of receiving spiritual food is in today’s second reading. The apostle Paul explains that after his conversion on the road to Damascus, he spent three years in Arabia, living with the believers there while he preached to the Gentiles (Galatians 1:17). He did not tackle his new life alone, and he did not focus only on preaching and serving the Lord. He was careful to stay connected to the church there and to seek their help in understanding and living out the new life he had just experienced.

The Christian life is a mixture of activity and openness to God’s grace. The more we receive encouragement from the Lord and our brothers and sisters in Christ, the more joyful and fruitful our acts of service will become.

So be sure to take time every day to sit quietly and invite Jesus to speak to your heart. But also make it a point to reach out to a friend from your parish. Don’t do all the talking either. Listen to the Lord; honor your brother or sister in Christ. Believe that those moments spent in fellowship are not a waste—they’re a slice of eternity!

“Jesus, help me to listen and receive from you today.”

Galatians 1:13-24
Psalm 139:1-3, 13-15