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Dear Deacon Nguyen,
Focus! I heard that a lot as a child.
But sometimes we focus on things that aren’t very important. Maybe what’s important to us is not what’s important to God. This final story of chapter 10 in the Gospel of Luke—in which Martha runs busily about preparing for the Lord’s visit while Mary sits at His feet listening to Him—teaches us where best to put our focus. |
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| “‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing.’” |
| ~ Luke 10:41, 42 |
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First and foremost our focus should be on our relationship with Jesus. On that precious time when we sit with Him, worship Him, pray to Him and study His Word, for He is the very Word of God. We would never have any relationships in this life if we didn’t invest time and energy into them.
Mary and Martha were Jesus’ good friends and faithful followers whom He visited frequently on His travels to Jerusalem. It was for them that our Lord performed the most amazing miracle of His ministry—raising their beloved brother Lazarus from the dead! So, when Jesus told the complaining Martha that her sister Mary had chosen “the better part”, it was a gentle reproach.
Dinh, Jesus doesn’t want us to be anxious or worried about anything, to be so busy working for Him that we forget He wants us to listen to, learn from, and love Him first. To put our focus on Jesus means we have chosen the better part—His Kingdom and His righteousness—which is eternal. |
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Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M. |
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| Prayer for 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time |
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We sit at Your feet, Lord Jesus,
to hear Your words of comfort,
hope, and love and to
take to heart Your teaching.
Remove distractions
from our thoughts and
worries from our hearts
that we might drink deeply
from Your fount of wisdom.
Like Mary might we place
friendship with You
above all else and
like Martha, when we must
perform our duties,
to do so freely
knowing we are serving You.
Amen. |
| ~ Father Joseph R. Veneroso, M.M. |
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| The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers serve the poor in 22 countries, and celebrate our faith through Mass, the Sacraments, and pastoral work. Help support our mission projects around the world. |
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