The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favour with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on-since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.”
Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.”
Second reading Colossians 1:24-28
Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.”
Second reading Colossians 1:24-28
I am happy in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to the divine commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them, God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Reflection
By Jose Paulo M. Gonzales
Today’s Gospel shows us how we can lose track of what is important in place of something we think is more expected of us. Like how our sister in faith, Martha of Bethany, acted when Jesus stopped over at their home. We sometimes forget to be like her sister, Mary.
At work, it may be difficult to listen to a colleague when we are too concerned with what we need to do next.
In school, it may be difficult to participate actively in class when our attention is diverted to what the outline and the content of a certain paper should be.
With our friends, it may be difficult to engage when we are busy to thinking of what to say, even when our friends only want our company.
Sometimes we choose to do what seems most important even when what is needed from us is simply our presence, our attention.
To make a situation work is not bad on its own. After all, preparations help make an event a more delightful experience. However, the fixation becomes a problem when it takes the place of what we should be prioritizing which is listening and being really present at the moment.
We can get lost in the preparations, but we can also be as distracted when we are not in charge of the preparations anymore—when at an event, we come as spectators.
How many times do we catch ourselves swept by how realistic the special effects are in a movie, how fluid the animations are, how masterful the sequencing of events to make a majestic story, but remembering only so little about the lines of the key characters and the lessons from their experiences?
How many times have we heard someone—or even ourselves—lost in the motif, the songs, the layout, the adornments, the entire preparation in a wedding, but could recall only little from his friend—the groom’s message for the bride during the Mass, or the bridesmaid’s heartfelt dedication at the reception?
When someone visits our homes, when someone vents out a negative encounter, when someone recounts a positive experience they treasure… what they could be expecting from us is not how we set the table or how we organize the furniture or the elaborate intricacies with which we prepare the meal, but simply a listening ear, someone who is really present.
We nab from ourselves the chance to enjoy someone’s company when we fixate on activities in the sideline.
We rob from ourselves the privilege to grace somebody else’s presence when we focus too much on the preparations, on the details, on the mechanics. When we do not realize what is most appreciated from us which is to simply be with our visitor, to listen to our friend, and to engage with them attentively.
When was the last time we listened to someone actively as Mary did? Have we listened to someone intently today?
At work, it may be difficult to listen to a colleague when we are too concerned with what we need to do next.
In school, it may be difficult to participate actively in class when our attention is diverted to what the outline and the content of a certain paper should be.
With our friends, it may be difficult to engage when we are busy to thinking of what to say, even when our friends only want our company.
Sometimes we choose to do what seems most important even when what is needed from us is simply our presence, our attention.
To make a situation work is not bad on its own. After all, preparations help make an event a more delightful experience. However, the fixation becomes a problem when it takes the place of what we should be prioritizing which is listening and being really present at the moment.
We can get lost in the preparations, but we can also be as distracted when we are not in charge of the preparations anymore—when at an event, we come as spectators.
How many times do we catch ourselves swept by how realistic the special effects are in a movie, how fluid the animations are, how masterful the sequencing of events to make a majestic story, but remembering only so little about the lines of the key characters and the lessons from their experiences?
How many times have we heard someone—or even ourselves—lost in the motif, the songs, the layout, the adornments, the entire preparation in a wedding, but could recall only little from his friend—the groom’s message for the bride during the Mass, or the bridesmaid’s heartfelt dedication at the reception?
When someone visits our homes, when someone vents out a negative encounter, when someone recounts a positive experience they treasure… what they could be expecting from us is not how we set the table or how we organize the furniture or the elaborate intricacies with which we prepare the meal, but simply a listening ear, someone who is really present.
We nab from ourselves the chance to enjoy someone’s company when we fixate on activities in the sideline.
We rob from ourselves the privilege to grace somebody else’s presence when we focus too much on the preparations, on the details, on the mechanics. When we do not realize what is most appreciated from us which is to simply be with our visitor, to listen to our friend, and to engage with them attentively.
When was the last time we listened to someone actively as Mary did? Have we listened to someone intently today?
Prayer
Father God, thank You for Your message to us today.
Thank You for the liberty we find in Your call for us to come as we are, to listen to You and not mind other things when we are in Your company.
May You grant us the grace to listen to You intimately and for us to find a confidant in You whom we can freely share our thoughts and daily activities.
Please grant us the grace to listen to You first before we take our turn to speak, because Your message is more important than ours, and for us to listen first to our brothers and sisters too so that we can show them that their message is important to us.
May You give us the grace to know when to speak and carry out Your Word, so that our listening bears fruit.
May we never lose sight of what’s most important in our daily situations.
Thank You so much, Father. May Your Name—Your Glory, be adored forever.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Thank You for the liberty we find in Your call for us to come as we are, to listen to You and not mind other things when we are in Your company.
May You grant us the grace to listen to You intimately and for us to find a confidant in You whom we can freely share our thoughts and daily activities.
Please grant us the grace to listen to You first before we take our turn to speak, because Your message is more important than ours, and for us to listen first to our brothers and sisters too so that we can show them that their message is important to us.
May You give us the grace to know when to speak and carry out Your Word, so that our listening bears fruit.
May we never lose sight of what’s most important in our daily situations.
Thank You so much, Father. May Your Name—Your Glory, be adored forever.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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