THE WORD
FIRST READING: Gen 18,1-10
The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oak of Mamre, as he sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot. Looking up, he saw three men standing near him.
When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them; and bowing to the ground, he said: “Sir, if it please you, do not go on past your servant. Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet, and then rest under the tree. Now that you have come to your servant, let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves; and afterward you may go on your way.” “Very well,” they replied, “do as you have said.”
Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick, three measures of bran flour!
Knead it and make bread.” He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. Then he got some curds and milk, as well as the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them, waiting on them under the tree while they ate.
“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There in the tent,” he replied. One of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son.” Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, just behind him.
SECOND READING: Col 1,24-28
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.
GOSPEL: Lk 10,38-42
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.”
IN OTHER WORDS
Two flies were strolling along the ceiling. “You know,” remarked the first fly, “humans are so silly.” good money building a nice high ceiling, and then they walk on the floor.”
There is also something silly about Martha in today’s gospel. First, she welcomes the Lord. Then, she goes to the kitchen and leaves Jesus behind in the living room. Good thing Mary is around who then chats with Jesus and makes Him feel at home. No doubt, Martha has the best and noblest of intentions. No doubt as well that it is important that Martha prepares a meal. The problem however is that she starts complaining to the Lord about Mary for not helping her in the kitchen.
We Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) take pride in our Founder St. Arnold Janssen’s spiritual heritage for naming our congregation after the Divine Word. However, we are also acutely aware of our obligation to listen to the Word most attentively and to spend regular time meditating on the Word, so that we become effective bearers and communicators of God’s Message.
Further, the Catholic Church is blessed to have contemplative and active religious congregations.
The former spend considerable time in meditation, contemplation and prayer inside monasteries or convents. The latter are found serving the Church in parishes, schools, health centers, slums, villages, etc.
The same principle applies to human relationships, especially families. Parents need to balance their time between career and family. Intimacy is hard work. As husbands and wives know, affection suffers, the warmth of tenderness diminishes and closeness slackens when inadequate time is given to a relationship. Added to this would be the manner with which we have allowed modern technologies to control and regulate our action. Communication gadgets like phones, tablets and computers are not always doing us good. They can steal away our ‘we-time” and prevent us from talking with each other if we do not rein in our use of them. The so-called social media could be in lots of ways anti-social when not properly used.
The importance of silence and solitude with the Lord cannot be overemphasized, in the same manner that a life of active service and ministry cannot be set aside. To us Christians, contemplative and active approaches are both essential, as one sustains the other. We need to remain prayerful even when we are busy; listen to God’s word in meditation and silence even when we are preoccupied with practical matters. Our ‘Martha needs’ are as important and valid as our ‘Mary moments’.
- Fr. Sisoy Cellan, SVD | Kenya
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
