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 16^TH SUNDAY, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: SEIZE THE MOMENT

(Luke 10:38-42)

What matters to Martha while Mary makes merry

Seizing the moment is an important message for today. Choice making and decision taking are a never do without in our everyday day life. What mattered most to Martha was cooking and the house chores while Mary found her peace and joy at the feet of Jesus. Our choices and decision determine our happiness or unhappiness. Our ability to relate with God and allow him enter in our lives means more than we can think of.

Jesus wants to enter into relationship with us, to be with us and commune with us as individuals and as community. It pleases Him when we welcome Him and also enter into holy and loving romance with Him.

 

WELCOME JESUS

It is not accidental that the writer of the Gospel of today pointed out at the beginning of this episode that Jesus entered. He entered a village. He wants to enter, He stays at the door and knocks, anyone that opens He enters and dines with him. Jesus doesn't want to stop at the village square or just at the parish centre. He wants to follow you home. He is open for an invitation. He wants friendship. He expects to be welcomed. Where have you kept Jesus? At the city gate? At the door? Who is inside with you preventing you from letting Him in? Why have you decided to keep him under the hot sun and the heavy rain? Do you take Him into your life' s boat? When He makes His way in, which position do you keep for Him?

 

MARTHA RECEIVES HIM INTO THE HOUSE

When no other person in the village received Jesus, a woman named Martha went and received Him. Were there no men in the village? It is true that Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were from this same family, he was not mentioned here. This must be to describe the exceptional role played by the woman Martha in bringing Jesus to the house.

 

MARY FILLS AN IMPORTANT GAP

Martha did well to bring Jesus into the house, but that was not enough. Something was missing.

Mary was immediately introduced to fill in the blank space. Martha took Jesus into the house, but Mary made a home for Jesus. A home is not the same as a house. You can live in a mansion, eat the best of meals, enjoy every good amenity, but still remain lonely. Jesus was left in the big house by Martha, but Mary came and kept Him company. The importance of communication cannot be overemphasized. A marriage without communication, a family without it, a person without it shatters. Jesus was left without communication except that Mary took that special part.

 

Have we left Jesus in our magnificent Church edifices?

Giving Jesus a house can means receiving Him during baptism and answering a Christian. Making Him a home can mean living so intimately with Him that people start seeing Christ in us. This has to do with holding Jesus firm, making Him number one in our everything. It means total surrender of oneself at Jesus' feet.

 

MARY AT THE LORD'S FEET

An Igbo joker says that "ndi no na-aka Chineke akariala, agam ano ya n' ukwu" (that he prefers to be at the feet of Jesus because many have taken hold of His hand)

What's the implication of being at the feet of Jesus?

The feet of Jesus is the place of instruction, of communication, of information, of conversion, of radical decision making and a place to seek solutions in confusion, a place of deep affection and true expression of love, it is a place to wipe away tears. It is the true position of true disciples. At the feet of the cross, we also saw the beloved disciples of Jesus.

It is a place of master- disciple relationship. In Acts 22:3, Paul boasts of being educated at the feet of Gamaliel.

At the feet of Jesus, Mary must have been contemplating, reflecting and meditating on Isaiah 52:7 "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring the good news, publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness. Mary was busy making sure that the sands of the evangelization brought by Jesus were not carried away. She was lost in pondering on the goodness of the Lord and wished to remain there. She recognises Jesus not as an ordinary visitor to be given food but to be given attention and the spiritual food of doing the will of God.

 

MARTHA AND HER MATTERS

Martha came up with her Matters, which she thought really mattered. She came to complain to Him. We may not blame her. Attention suddenly shifted from her, who it was that brought in Jesus. She must have been really jealous why Jesus pays attention to one who never invited Him. After moments of alone disturbances, she dared to approach Jesus and complained bitterly about what she called   "unfair" behaviour of her sister.

To work is to pray. But in the case of Martha, there was work with grudge.

Martha represents the many people who claim to be too busy that making out time for God becomes a problem.

Martha here represents those who do a lot of things for the Church, but they are not interested in communing with God. The Marthas can be those who do not understand the reason behind constant confession, daily morning Mass, 'nkuzi nke okwukwe,' or visit to the Blessed Sacrament.

Marthas are those who do not stay put in the Church without being distracted by looking at others, by pressing phones, chatting away, and being absent-minded.

Marthas are those who are so troubled by the cares and worries of life that they keep christ aside for a while.

 

THE BETTER PART CHOSEN BY MARY

Just like Martha, Mary must have had a lot of troubles, but she poured them there at the feet of Jesus. Martha kept pushing without Christ, and thus, she entered into the crisis of impatience and anger.

The better part chosen by Mary was to waste no time. She immediately seized the opportunity in their house to be with Jesus, be open to Him, and make Him Lord and master. Mary got the better part through listening, paying heed to instructions and allowing the word to bring her peace and transformation of life.

Can we embrace the word of God, build Him an altar in our families, pray together, attend the Holy Mass, receive the Holy Communion, meditate, and pray ? Try to know the will of God and do it?

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

We pray You Oh God to bless our resolve to follow You, to welcome You and listen to You. Give us the best of the things we need most in this life.

Deliver us from the troubles and problems that hinder us from truly worshipping You as our personal Lord and loving master. May we find peace in our loving relationship with You in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Happy Sunday to you, dear friends in Christ. (16th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr C)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh