Enkindle in Them the Fire of Your Love: 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) - July 18, 2010

Liturgical readings

Genesis 18:1-10
Psalm 15
Colossians 1:24-28
Luke 10:38-42

"One thing only is required."

The story of Martha and Mary. This story can only be found in the gospel of Luke. The parable of the Good Samaritan precedes it, while the story of Jesus teaching the prayer of the 'Our Father' to His disciples follow it. If we then find common themes running through these three stories, we can say that it teaches about active charity (the Good Samaritan and Martha), and essential prayer (Mary and Jesus teaching the 'Our Father').

Fr. Thomas Green, SJ, in his book "Darkness in the Marketplace", writes about how St. John of the Cross reflects on this gospel story on Martha and Mary:

"The soul, indeed lost to all things and won over to love, no longer occupies her spirit in anything else. She even withdraws in matters pertinent to the active life and exterior occupations for the sake of fulfilling the one thing the Bridegroom said was necessary (Luke 10:42): attentive and continual love of God."

If we were to apply this one thing necessary that the gospel teaches us, we can look to the celebration of the Eucharist for its practice. It is only once a week that we can do the "one thing required" by the Lord: to focus our sight on God who gives Himself to us in bread and wine (which at the time of consecration is transformed into the Bread and Wine of Life). After a week of being like Marthas (who are anxious and upset about many things), in the Eucharist, we can follow the contemplative spirit of Mary and receive "the better portion".

Points for reflection: How do we see ourselves at this stage in our life? Are we engaged in much active charity - working hard for the good of our loved ones? Or are we taking more time to be with the Lord - attentively setting our sight on Him and centering our lives in Him?

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