Choose the Better Part

In today’s Gospel from Saint Luke, Jesus says, “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.”  The better part that Mary has chosen is to be silent in the presence of Jesus, she has let go of everything and given Him all her attention.

Jesus does not intend that we stop working, planning, or building up our families and communities, but what He does mean is that He must be first in all things and that when we do approach Him, He has our full attention.  Sometimes that is difficult.  It is amazing that human nature has not changed in 2,000 years.  Martha is anxious and worried.  What was on her mind?  What was preoccupying her?  What was she going through?  Like any person, she may have been thinking about the next thing, i.e. making sure everything is ready and that all flows smoothly instead of just letting things happen and unfold.  That is very hard for us to do, to just let things unfold, we feel like we lose control when that happens.  We want every iota figured out and planned.

Sometimes what prevents us from being fully present to Jesus is our fears which come from worry and anxiety.  That fear could be from anything, it could be fear of the future, i.e. will I and my family be ok?  The worry, doubt, and fear could come from trying to please others and trying to become everything to everyone.  We cannot please everyone in this world nor will we like everyone we meet.  Though we must love everyone, and yet what others may think of us in some way does matter, because we want to be well thought of, but it should not be what makes us tick, what makes us tick is what’s inside of us, our own motivation, drive, and desire to be virtuous and holy.

Other times the worry and anxiety can be about everyday things ranging from, will my children be safe to will we get dinner prepared in time?  Jesus tells us not to worry for every hair on our heads has been counted.  I just hope He took the count when I was twenty-five years old.  All kidding aside, I know it’s sometimes hard to let go of everything, but we must and especially when we come into the presence of the Lord, here at Mass, wherever and whenever we pray, when we quiet ourselves before Him.  In those moments all the worry and anxiety fall away from us.  A great way of doing this is to go to a quiet place, breathe slowly and deeply and then begin a rosary or reflect on Scripture or any prayer; you will quickly notice the change.  This is what Mary did and she entered that place of peace and was able to let go of everything while Martha still carried all of the worry and anxiety around with her even though Jesus was in her presence.  Mary chose the better part; I pray that we too will choose the better part.