38-40 As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.”
41-42 The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.”
It is easy to pick on Martha and praise Mary. The problem with Martha was not all her good work, but that she was too busy to experience the moment and savor the specialness of what was happening. She was distracted.
This is how we miss God present in our lives - by being too busy. By being distracted.
“We...need to practice the ‘art of no agenda’ - to live in such a way that we begin to respond to the rhythms of life around us rather than control or initiate all of them. We must, in prayer, seek to be open to and content with whatever the days brings. We must allow ourselves to be ‘interrupted’ for God visits in interruptions.”
Take time to listen for the still small voice of God. Be quiet and sit at the feet of Jesus; take time to do nothing.
”The question that must guide
all organizing activity in a parish
(and in a family) is not how
to keep people busy, but how
to keep them from being so busy
that they can no longer hear the
voice of God who speaks in silence.”
Henri Nouwen,
Prayer thought for the week: “Lord, help me to slow down, take a deep breath, and hear your voice in the “sound of silence”.
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