Everybody's talking at me; I can't hear a word they're saying; only the echoes of my mind. In our lives today; seems like everybody is just talking at me; lots of chatter, lots of noise, I'd like to propose another way: Listen, listen, love, love. One of the many ways I minister at Rayburn Prison is to support and participate with the Kairos ministry. This ministry is an ecumenical effort to bring the gift of presence to the men incarcerated at Rayburn and our gift is to listen, listen, love, love!!!
This sounds like something we should adopt in our busy hectic lives; at home, at work, at school. While we are addicted to social media and fuller than full social calendars, even for the kids, maybe we just need more time to listen, listen, love, love!
As people of faith, we are truly called to listen, listen, love, love!
Today's Gospel from St. Luke follows the travels of Jesus and His Apostles and Disciples as they continue to journey to Jerusalem. As they arrive in the area of Bethany we are told that they enter the house of a friend, Martha. We recall here that Jesus was indeed friends with Martha, who owned the house, her sister Mary and their brother Lazarus. Jesus was comfortable entering the house and took up a position to speak. This was not simply social chatter or checking out the box scores from last night games; Jesus was speaking; from authority, speaking as if a teacher or a rabbi. Usually, the only people who would be gathered close to Him to hear His words would be men. St. Luke tells us that Mary is there, sitting at His feet and listening to all He had to say. This makes Martha mad because she is busy with all the many details of hospitality. Not unlike our experience, when family or friends would be stopping by or preparing for something like Christmas dinner, there were many things to do to provide hospitality. Martha, upset with her sister, goes straight to Jesus with her complaint, she even tells Jesus to make Mary help her. This is classic because does this not sound like some of our prayers. I'm going to pray like Martha; I'm going to ask Jesus to do something about somebody else. You know: Jesus, make my husband do this or say that; Jesus, make my wife act this way or do that. We may even pray Jesus, tell my children to be good, tell my boss to get off my back, tell my teacher to give me a better grade. Yes, Martha's requests are not that unfamiliar to us after all.
For His part, Jesus answers his friend with two of my favorite words in Scripture: Martha, Martha! Yes, just hearing Martha, Martha makes me smile. But Jesus continues, you are worried and anxious about many things! And so are we! Perhaps I smile at Martha, Martha because I could just as well be hearing Mike, Mike. Collectively we could be hearing church, church; you are worried and anxious about many things. Even all of us, gathered here today at Mass, can get lost in the noise, lost in the weeds. We worry and are anxious about everything other than our Jesus. We worry about the Church, what the Pope did or did not do, did the Bishop really say that, did my Pastor just do that? This sounds just like Martha! Jesus adds more; Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her. As Catholic Christians, we have many opportunities to rest with, to dwell with the "better part". Jesus and His Church, and all His sublime teachings is the "better part". We can lay aside all our busy-ness; at home and at work, even in Church and our ministries and choose the better part. Just here at Most Holy Trinity, we can come to adoration and benediction, and rest with the "better part". We can take advantage of Saturday reconciliation, pray the Rosary in community, attend daily Mass, or sign up for adult faith formation. These would be ways to lay aside our worry and anxiety and choose the "better part".
In just the week ahead, can we turn down the noise and clear the clutter to spend time with the "better part". Can we come and see what opportunities we have here at MHT to help slow us down and rest more in the presence of Jesus? Can we do something as simple and pray for the young Church as we celebrate World Youth Day in Brazil?
You know yesterday, working with our Kairos team, we spent over 7 hours with the inmates talking about forgiveness and sin and praying through their hopes and fears, as they put away their worries and anxieties and choose the better part. If these men could do this when in prison; dare I say so can we! Everybody keeps talking at me; I can't hear a word they are saying. But Jesus is talking to me; I will choose the better part. How? Listen, Listen, Love, Love!!!
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