16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 20, 2025

/

The first step in following Jesus is to listen to His word

Luke 10: 38–42

Jesus entered a village
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
"Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me."
The Lord said to her in reply,
"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her."

Music Meditations

Open My eyes Lord, Jesse Manibusan Give Me Jesus---Fernando Ortega Change our Hearts---Rory Cooney ( feat. Teresa Donohoo) I’d Rather Have Jesus--Selah

Preparation / Centering

If done in a group setting, the prompts are read aloud by the leader; otherwise a silent meditation.

Adapted from Sacred Space: The Prayer Book 2025

Presence of God:

Jesus, As I come to you today, fill my heart, my whole being, with the wonder of your sacred presence. Help me to become more aware of your presence in my life, and more receptive to that presence. I desire to love you as you love me. May nothing ever separate me from you.

[1-2 minutes of silence]

Freedom:

Jesus, Grant me the grace to have freedom of spirit. Keep me from being bound by desires and actions that are not good for me or others. Cleanse my heart and soul that I may live joyously in your love.

[1-2 minutes of silence]

Consciousness:

Where am I with God? With others in my life? What am I grateful for? Is there something I am sorry for, words or actions that have hurt others, and which I now regret? I take a moment to ask forgiveness of God and of those whom I have hurt. God, I give you thanks for your constant love and care for me. Keep me always aware of your presence in my life.

[2-3 minutes of silence]

Opening Prayer

Adapted from Sacred Space, a service of the Irish Jesuits:

Lord, I so often identify with Martha, because she is doing what needs to be done, and accomplishing good things. Help me, Lord, to see that sometimes it is better to be than to do. Keep me from settling for what satisfies me and makes me feel justified, and give me the grace to want only what You want.

Companions for the Journey

From “First Impressions” 2007,a service of the Southern Dominican Province,written by Father Jude Siciliano, O.P.:

Jesus and his disciples continue their journey to Jerusalem. Along the way with them we meet various groups of people: the crowds, who are drawn by their own desperate needs or are curious about the spectacle; the “teachers of the law,” who are growing more and more hostile; Jesus’ disciples, enthusiastic but confused because of Jesus’ talk of his coming passion. Just prior to today’s Martha and Mary story a lawyer “tested” Jesus about who constituted “neighbor,” and last week we heard Jesus’ response in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Have Jesus’ followers and antagonists really been listening to what he has been saying? Have we? Today we have a story of someone who shows respect for Jesus and sets an example for us by listening to his word.

The Martha and Mary account is only found in Luke and so we would expect to find in it and the surrounding accounts, typical Lucan touches. For example, typical of Luke, it features women ministering and listening to Jesus. Also, the story is situated between action and prayer: the preceding story of the Good Samaritan encapsulates the ideal of Christian love and service; while the following account after the Martha and Mary one, has some of Jesus’ teaching about prayer. Are we listening to the cumulated message of these narratives? Does it take prayer to help us discern and follow-through on our call to serve others in need? Will prayer help us recognize the needy so that we not “walk on by on the other side,” as the religious leaders did to the man who had been set upon by bandits? The stories of the Good Samaritan, Mary and Martha and the teaching on prayer are intimately related--- they are of a piece.

What a relief it must have been for Jesus to be “welcomed” by Martha. This is Martha’s only appearance in Luke. Martha’s sister Mary is also in the story and she sits at Jesus’ feet to hear him speak---literally, to “listen to his word.” To sit at someone’s feet was to acknowledge his or her authority. Thus, Mary treats Jesus as one sent with an authoritative word, a prophet. Martha is often described as “the heavy” in this story---the one who is fretting and bossy. But initially, at least, she is the hospitable one who welcomes Jesus and tries to do much to follow-up on her hospitality. Since Jesus is journeying to Jerusalem with his disciples, I wonder if they weren’t close by. If so, Martha had much to do and could be overwhelmed with work and feel abandoned by her sister.

Jesus tells Martha that she is “anxious and worried” about many things. Luke Timothy Johnson (SACRA PAGINA, page 174) says that in the original these terms suggest: being “anxious” about the entanglements of life in the world and “making an uproar.” Johnson goes on to say that Jesus’ response, “there is a need for only one thing,” had been variously interpreted. Some say Jesus is suggesting she could have served fewer dishes, just “one” of a “few.” But Johnson thinks Jesus is responding to the virtue of hospitality, that is, the importance of paying attention to the guest. That’s what’s important. Everything else is secondary. So, Mary made the right choice. Mary’s way of being hospitable was not only to welcome the Prophet in their home but to also listen to his words. She has done what people should do---listen to the one who speaks God’s word---”the one thing necessary.”

Which makes us ask ourselves: how do we offer hospitality to the prophets? How open are we to hearing from the “guests” among us, our God speaking to us? A guest comes from the outside world. They bring us a presence and a perspective we don’t ordinarily get because we are immersed in our daily routine, companions and usual thought patterns. When someone speaks from a different world view, or another perspective on daily life, our first response is to put up barriers; we feel our borders threatened. It is an act of faith and trust in the Spirit within us to pay attention to what we hear and see and to reflect on it. We can sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to his words just by being more attentive to those around us; especially those who are from the “outside,” who initially act and speak in ways foreign to us. Before we bolt the door of our minds and hearts, we might practice hospitality and openness. Who knows what we might hear? Who knows what riches we might experience? Who knows, we might even be welcoming the Prophet---the one sent by God with a word for us disciples.

Weekly Memorization

Taken from the gospel for today’s session…

Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.

Living the Good News

What action can you take in the next week as a response to today’s reading and discussion?

Keep a private journal of your prayer/actions responses this week. Feel free to use the personal reflection questions or the meditations which follow:

Reflection Questions

How shocking were Jesus actions concerning women as described by Luke? How countercultural were those actions (Eating in the presence of women not related to him? Teaching about spiritual matters not in a synagogue with men, but with a woman?) What was the role of women in Jesus’ society? How was his message to Martha and his approval of Mary liberating for women? Do any religions today engage in obvious or tacit misogyny? Do we tend to criticize Mary because hospitality and serving is the natural role of women, even today? Have I ever played the Mary role (letting someone else do all the serving of others) In my everyday interactions? Did anyone ever call me on it? Do we tend to sympathize with Martha because she is doing what needs to be done, when no one else is doing so? Have I ever played the Martha role (being a martyr) in my everyday interactions? Did anyone ever call me on it? Instead of directly asking for help from someone who was in a position to render same, did I ask someone else to do so for me? What was the payoff for me? (Attention, Pity? Anger on my behalf?) If my plea for help was rejected, how did I feel? If my plea for help was answered positively, how did I feel? How hard is it to remember that God loves me, not for what I do/accomplish, but simply because I am? Do I use my good behavior or good deeds to earn God’s love and approval? How often do I try to elicit God’s attention though frantic activity? Am I afraid Jesus will find me lazy in doing his will? Do I talk too much? Am I a good listener? Am I only open to hear those ideas which reinforce my own opinions? Am I willing to listen to ideas and thought which are new or unsettling to me? What do I think is the purpose of prayer? Do I expect a result when I pray? How often do I talk at God instead of to God? How often do I simply listen? How hard is it to listen? Do I believe that Jesus favors those cloistered behind a grill or those out actively working for the poor and marginalized? Are both choices foreign to my life as an everyday Catholic? Does that make me insignificant or even a failure in the eyes of Jesus?

Meditations

A Meditation in the Dominican Style/Asking Questions:
There are several explanations for Jesus’ response to Martha in this story: Some suggest that Jesus is telling her that the contemplative life is superior to the active life. That is a modern day stretch, because most women at that time did not have the means or the household help, nor the social standing to absent themselves from the everyday running of a household. The real “contemplatives” would be some men who devoted themselves, not to work, but to study of the scriptures. Others have suggested that he was telling her to keep it simple and not try to overdo the hospitality thing. Again, a bit of a stretch, since that was the expected and approved role of women in Jesus’ time and culture. The noted preacher Walter Burghardt, S.J. suggested in Christ in Ten Thousand Places that Jesus was telling Mary that no matter what she was doing, she needed to listen to God, listen to Jesus. He suggests that all of our actions should come from a place where we have listened to and are responding to Jesus. He calls those actions “biblical” Is it hard to root our actions in some preliminary listening? How can I train myself to start here instead of starting with action and ending with reflection? How might the results of my activity be changed if I started with listening to Jesus?
A Meditation in the Augustinian Style/Relationship:
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.” I notice that there is no accusation, no rejection of all she has done to welcome Jesus and be a good host. His words are not a reproof, nor a rejection of her actions, but encouragement, a simple reminder that she chose to be active instead of listening, a reminder that action without listening is less than it can be. Aren’t we all worried and distracted like Martha? I speak to Jesus of the times I have been worried that my best would be judged as not good enough, and have been fussing over details no one else cared about. I speak to him about the times I have been surly and resentful in performing tasks for others because I don’t consider myself appreciated enough, and of the times that I have been jealous of those who seem to be appreciated when they have done little to earn that appreciation. I listen carefully to Jesus’ (and maybe others’) silent gratitude for all that I do. I listen prayerfully to Jesus inviting me to find the one thing necessary for me, and ask for his help to be more focused on what is most important in my life.
Literary Reflection:

What does the Poet E. E. Cummings have to say about how we humans spend our time in this life, mostly to make “progress” of some sort?

pity this busy monster, manunkind, not. Progress is a comfortable disease: your victim (death and life safely beyond) plays with the bigness of his littleness --- electrons deify one razorblade into a mountainrange; lenses extend unwish through curving wherewhen till unwish returns on its unself. A world of made is not a world of born --- pity poor flesh and trees, poor stars and stones, but never this fine specimen of hypermagical ultraomnipotence. We doctors know a hopeless case if --- listen: there's a hell of a good universe next door; let's go
Poetic Reflection:

Father Michael Kennedy S.J., who has been a pastor at Mission Dolores Parish in Los Angeles, muses on what Martha actually did contribute to this story:

Martha Stalwart
(16th Sunday Ordinary time) The two sisters Martha and Mary are Examples used by Luke to Remind us that that the attitude Of Jesus toward women was truly Remarkable in the first century And even not common today Among our modern cavemen But there is more than one Point the author wants to Make so that the listener Or the reader will See a new side of The Master **** There is the lesson That this first century Woman was able to be at The feet of Jesus just Like any male disciple and This would be a great shock To all who heard the story But it clearly describes the View of Jesus toward women And which Luke more than any Other Gospel writer clearly Shows in the rest of his Work for it is at the Core of who Jesus Really is **** And the other point That is underlined by Jesus is That He listens to Mary’s sister And does not call her out about her Whining but rather points out that She and all disciples need to listen To the Word of Jesus and so Probably she got the message And gave her attention to Jesus so much that after This day perhaps she Was forever known As Martha Stalwart
Poetic Reflection:

Another amusing, but true, perspective from Father Michael Kennedy on Mary and Martha:

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happenstance
(16th Sunday Ordinary time) Just about everyone Has relatives or friends Who almost never help When real help is needed And use some partly true Allegation to worm their Way out of some task or To get out of doing jobs That are too hard for Their precious Hands or their Fragile egos **** But to see this In the Martha and Mary Story is reading back just From our own perspective as We see Martha as offended By the Master and Mary as The lazy sister who is Praised for her simple Adoration when the Truth of the story is Remarkably and Wonderfully Different **** The Lord would Never put down Martha For doing hospitality nor Over praise Mary for Focusing on him for The message is just That if he is at the Core then it makes Little difference Whether we serve like Martha or stare with Enchanted eyes we Still will be doing his Will and both will be Conscious decisions Not a loose pursuit Of life, liberty and The pursuit of Happenstance

Closing Prayer

Jesus, Did you ever feel the fierce force the push the pull of days and nights that were far too full of people and programs you thought willed by one whose way must be fulfilled? When at the end of a difficult day with barely time to pause and pray before the crowds began to press upon you did you also bless each God-given opportunity? If so, Jesus, remember me.

(Winter, Sister Miriam Therese, Womanword 126-127)