Daily Gospel Reflection for October 8, 2024

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Luke 10:38-42

Martha of Bethany welcomed Jesus into her home. Martha did not have a refrigerator or a cabinet full of food to make her invitation an easy decision. No, this moment of hospitality came with sacrifice and a deep desire to serve others. She knew there would be work, yet she did not let the burden keep her from eagerly extending an invitation to Jesus, and His friends, into her home. She did not allow the sacrifice to dissuade her from offering Jesus her hospitality.

Sometimes in my stress of welcoming others, especially during the holidays, I tend to resemble Martha with her unfair expectation placed upon others. Martha assumed Mary's assistance when she invited Jesus and His friends to stay at her home, perhaps without first checking with her sister. When her sister chose something different, she became agitated and even turned to the Lord to express her displeasure.

Mary did nothing wrong. She made Jesus her number one priority; she chose, as Jesus says, the better part. Jesus gently teaches the sisters, and us, about balance, which begins by putting time with Him first, especially when we are worried and bothered about so many things. I also see in this exchange the necessity of discussing expectations with our families to avoid undue tensions in our home.

We can learn from Mary and Martha—maintaining a balance between our spiritual well-being and our desire to serve others. Mary is the wise sister who recognized a unique opportunity to sit and learn at the Master's feet. Martha is the sister with a servant's heart who embraced the opportunity to care for the needs of others, which despite her murmuring to Jesus, I believe brought her great joy. Prayer can lead us to know the time for each.

Ponder:

What can I do to take full advantage of Jesus's presence in my life while also fulfilling my many responsibilities?

Pray:

Jesus, help me to recognize when it is time to sit at Your feet and when it is time to serve. When pressed into service, provide me the grace to seek, gently and kindly, the help I need.

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