“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
Daily Reflections
Saturday, 29th July 2017.
Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of St. Martha
Ex 24: 3-8; or 1Jn 4:7-16
Ps 34:1-10;
Jn 11: 19-27 or Lk 10: 38-42
JESUS, OUR MOST IMPORTANT GUEST
“Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus” (Jn 11: 5). This unique statement in John’s gospel tells us of the special relationship Jesus had with Martha, her sister, and her brother. It appears that Jesus was a frequent guest at Martha’s home in Bethany, a small village two miles from Jerusalem. We read of three visits in Lk 10: 38-42, Jn 11: 1-53 and Jn 12: 1-9.
In the First visit (Lk 10:38-42), Jesus find Mary at his feet listening to him and Martha busy in the kitchen. We must acknowledge that most of us are probably much more like Martha than her sister Mary. Mary chose the better part, but we often choose the anxious and worrisome part. In the Gospel passage, Martha was busy working to satisfy the guests; She had forgotten that Jesus was the most important guest. But Jesus cuts through all the normal parts of hospitality and focuses in on the most important part. He focuses in on love. He honors Mary for kneeling before Him and encourages Martha to do the same. Perhaps there are many times during our busy days that this invitation from Jesus should be listened to. There are many times when we simply need to stop and listen, be present and adore. We are people called to be in the constant presence of our Lord, loving Him and being fed by Him.
During the second visit of Jesus (John 11), Martha was grieving the death of her brother. But when she hears that Jesus has just come to the area, she gets up immediately and leaves her house, leaves her mourning, and goes to meet him. Her pain is forgotten, and she goes to meet the Lord. She was a woman of enormous faith, and she professes: “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” And then Jesus goes on to raise her brother from the dead.
Martha was transformed after Jesus’ first visit, so much so Jesus was the focus of her life, she leaves her home and all mourning behind to meet Jesus. Let us also build that love relationship with Jesus, the Son of God. May he not only be the frequent guest in our life but more than that may he be an integral part of our family.
Prayer: Lord, help me to seek Your still silent presence. Help me to surrender over my anxiety and worry. Jesus, bathe me in Your grace and help me refocus each and every day on You. Jesus, I love You. Amen.