Mary has chosen what is better

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C

Collect

Show favour, O Lord, to your servants and mercifully increase the gifts of your grace, that, made fervent in hope, faith and charity, they may be ever watchful in keeping your commands. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading
Gn 18:1-10a

Lord, do not go past your servant.

A reading from the Book of Genesis

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre,
   as he sat in the entrance of his tent,
   while the day was growing hot.
Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing nearby.
When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them;
   and bowing to the ground, he said:
   “Sir, if I may ask you this favor,
   please do not go on past your servant.
Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet,
   and then rest yourselves under the tree.
Now that you have come this close to your servant,
   let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves;
   and afterward you may go on your way.”
The men replied, “Very well, do as you have said.”

Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah,
   “Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls.”
He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer,
   and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it.
Then Abraham got some curds and milk,
   as well as the steer that had been prepared,
   and set these before the three men;
   and he waited on them under the tree while they ate.

They asked Abraham, “Where is your wife Sarah?”
He replied, “There in the tent.”
One of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year,
   and Sarah will then have a son.”

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 15:2-3, 3-4, 5

R. :

℟. (1a) He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

One who walks blamelessly and does justice;
   who thinks the truth in his heart
   and slanders not with his tongue.

℟. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Who harms not his fellow man,
   nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
by whom the reprobate is despised,
   while he honors those who fear the LORD.

℟. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Who lends not his money at usury
   and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
One who does these things
   shall never be disturbed.

℟. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Second Reading
Col 1:24-28

The mystery hidden from ages has now been manifested to his holy ones.

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians

Brothers and sisters:
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,
   and in my flesh I am filling up
   what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ
   on behalf of his body, which is the church,
   of which I am a minister
   in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me
   to bring to completion for you the word of God,
   the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.
But now it has been manifested to his holy ones,
   to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory
   of this mystery among the Gentiles;
   it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.
It is he whom we proclaim,
   admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
   that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

The word of the Lord.

Acclamation before the Gospel
cf. Lk 8:15

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel
Lk 10:38-42

Martha welcomed him. Mary has chosen the better part.

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

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.”

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection 

Today’s episode is found only in Luke’s Gospel. He depicts Jesus on His way to Jerusalem. Although Jesus is travelling to Jerusalem, in this account we find Him at table in the home of Martha and Mary. From John’s Gospel, we know that Martha and Mary were the sisters of Lazarus and lived in Bethany. Jesus presents Himself as a pilgrim in need of hospitality. As we know, these sisters each welcomed Jesus differently: Martha was focused on preparing a meal and didn’t pause for a moment, while Mary chose to stop and listen to Jesus.

It is worth pausing to reflect on the contrast between these two sisters. Martha treated Jesus as the guest—so much so that she did her best to prepare a meal. On the other hand, Mary treated Jesus as the host—so much so that she stopped what she was doing, sat at His feet and listened to Him. Although they were sisters, they did not share the same priorities. Jesus praises Mary’s choice because it is one that “will not be taken from her.” 

This is the kind of hospitality Jesus desires from me: He does not want me to focus on doing something for Him…but to allow Him to make something of me.

Prayer

Lord, I admit that I hear you rebuking me, because it’s not the first time that I have found myself thinking and worrying about many things. Teach me to leave everything and sit at your feet to listen to You. You know what I hunger for—even more than I do.

Help me to recognise, when I sit with You at table, that it was you who invited me and not the other way around. Therefore, my priority should not be to do something for You, but to allow You to use me as you see fit.

I desire to choose the part that will not be taken from me … so that, when the time comes, I may take my place with You at the table of the heavenly banquet. Amen.

 

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