--- title: Daily Readings Reflection for 7/18/10 description: Daily Readings Reflection for 7/18/10 --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2010/07/18/daily-readings-reflection-for-71810#) # Daily Readings Reflection for 7/18/10 Jul 18, 2010 9:00:34 AM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) Reflection on Today’s Daily Readings by Fr. Bertrand Buby, SM [Today’s Readings](http://www.usccb.org/nab/) Scripture: July 18, 16th Sunday Ord. Genesis 18:1-10a. Psalm 15:2-3,3-4.5. Colossians 1:24-28. Luke 10:38-42: Jesus had special friends like Martha and Mary and Lazarus. He spent some time with them in their homes. Today's Gospel gives us a good insight into the intimacy and friendship he shared with the two sisters and their brother Lazarus.  Luke gives us a clear and coherent incident that shows us that Jesus is a special friend to them and vice-versa.  A friend is able to speak the truth even when it may hurt.  Friends can gently confront us and we make some progress in a bad habit that no one else would tell us about. We grow spiritually and psychological with such friendships. Martha enjoyed such a close relationship with Jesus; it she who is center stage with him in this story.  She will be seen to be the one person who unlocks the identity of Jesus by her proclamation in the Fourh Gospel that shows she believes the Lord can do something for her brother who is now dead for over three days.  Martha gives us a confession of total faith in Jesus: "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah,the Son of God, the one coming into the world." (John 11:27).  Peter has this role in the Synoptics, but Martha has it here and throughout chapter 11 of John. We learn much from focusing on Martha rather than Mary who is sitting and listening as a disciple of Jesus would do.  Martha is open, sincere, and offers her complaint to a dear friend, Jesus.  She, afterall, did more in a spirit of hospitality which is one of the great biblical virtues. Today most mothers would identify themselves with what Martha is going through in the many things they do for their families and children in a very fast moving society of sports, technology, work.   And even though Jesus tells Martha that Mary has chosen the better part--all would have been deprived of a good dinner and a pleasant setting had it not been for Martha. Martha gets Jesus to listen!  Mary does not.  Jesus listens and calms her with his words and his gestures. We are delighted to see her listening to the active voice of Jesus that effects peace within her and causes Jesus to listen to her.  This is more the give and take that friends enjoy than simply contemplating the guest of honor. We may ask from our viewpoint whether Mary has really chosen the better part.  We probably feel more affinity with Martha. Three cheers for her in this delightful Gospel passage!  In fact, one ancient manuscript gives us a different translation for this text: "She (Martha) had a sister named Mary who ALSO sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying."  We need to see who Martha is from both Luke and from John to realize that maybe both sisters have chosen the better part--friendship with Jesus!  Amen. ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2010%2F07%2F18%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-71810%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2010%2F07%2F18%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-71810%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2010%2F07%2F18%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-71810%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Readings%20Reflection%20for%207%2F18%2F10) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2010%2F07%2F18%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-71810%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2010%2F07%2F18%2Fdaily-readings-reflection-for-71810%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Profile%203.jpg) ### [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) We welcome guest contributors who graciously volunteer their writing for our readers. 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