Hosting dinner parties can be fun, but also exhausting! A sink full of dirty dishes will never clean itself no matter how long you let it sit. So we sympathize with Martha in the Gospel today. Her sister sits there like a lump while Martha’s toiling away to make sure her guest has a nice visit.

Isn’t that what she’s supposed to do? The ancient Hebrews valued hospitality highly. That seems to be the point of the first reading. After all, Abraham is entertaining angels!

Martha and Mary’s houseguest isn’t an angel, but the King of Glory, the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. He doesn’t ask to be catered to or doted upon…but rather, adored. Mary has chosen the better part by sitting at the feet of
Jesus and letting Him gaze upon her with love as she sits in adoration of His Presence. The better part is not to do things for Jesus, but simply to be with Him.

The dirty dishes do need to be washed. But how much better would it be rather than days filled with resentment and worry to do our work after quality time with a beloved friend? Read the daily Gospel in the morning. Visit the Blessed Sacrament on your lunch break. Unplug the ear buds and take a walk after dinner. Take time this week to just be with Jesus.

Fr. Eric