Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Scripture

The importance of listening to the Lord’s teaching and direction is a theme that runs through our readings today.  In our first reading, we pick up the story of Jonah just after the well-known account of his encounter with the whale.  Jonah, who had previously attempted to run away from the commission that God gave to him, now accepts God’s direction that he set out for the city of Nineveh to warn its citizens, who had lapsed into sin, that the city would be destroyed in forty days.   

News of Jonah’s message reaches Nineveh prior to his arrival, and the king of Nineveh, who is already engaged in mourning and repentance, directs the citizens of the city to turn away from evil.  The citizens of Nineveh respond to this direction and the city is spared.

In our second reading we find Jesus encountering two women.  The first woman, Martha, becomes so distracted with preparing a meal for Jesus that she fails to listen to his teachings.  The second woman, Mary, focuses solely on sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to his teachings.  Jesus responds to this situation by stating “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.” (Lk 38:42)

The participants in our readings are each responding to teaching and direction in different ways.  Jonah, who had previously run away from the commission that the Lord gave him, is now following the Lord’s guidance.  The king of Nineveh saves his city by hearing the message that the Lord has sent through Jonah and by repenting and directing the citizens of his city to do likewise.  Finally, we find Martha, who is too distracted by the preparation of a meal, to listen to the Lord’s teachings.  Jesus gently reminds her that her anxieties and worries have caused her to be distracted from what is most important.

While the importance of prioritizing time to listen to the Lord’s teaching is dramatically set forth in our first reading, we are each more likely to identify with Martha.  For Martha, it is the chores of the day that have caused her to be distracted from the Lord’s teachings. While it does not appear that Martha is making a conscious decision to ignore the Lord, she has unconsciously elected to focus her attention on matters that are less important.  The anxiety and worries of her day have caused her to lose sight of the big picture and she is worse off as a result.   Jesus’ instruction to Martha is one that may be equally applicable to us.  Today, we are called upon to consciously think about the decisions that we are making and whether we are incorporating the Lord’s teachings into those decisions.  We are asked to be consciously aware of the moment and where it fits into the big picture.   When, like Mary, we bring the Lord into the present moment, we have made the right choice.

- John Sperino