July 19: Preparing to Celebrate Sunday’s Mass / Preparándonos para Celebrar la Misa Dominical

Last weekend, we shared a Gospel passage with which we are all very familiar: the parable of the Good Samaritan. This weekend, we will share not a parable, but the account of a real-life event in the public life of Jesus. It, too, is one with which we are very familiar: Jesus’ visit with the sisters Martha and Mary in Bethany.

Before coming to Mass, read Luke 10, 38-42 and see if you feel a twinge of sympathy for Martha. It was her house after all, and she would naturally want to show it at its best. Her problem, as with over-anxious people in general, was that she saw only one right way to do things, and became annoyed when others followed a different course. What she did not see is that the best kind of welcome is when we forget ourselves and focus on what our visitors really need.

Jesus says that her sister has chosen “the better portion.” Notice that, in saying this, He offers a comparative statement, not a condemnation. He does not say that Martha has chosen poorly, but that Mary has chosen a better path, in the moment. It is important to remember that Martha loved Jesus, too, and it is clear that He treasured them both. Her “mistake,” if we can call it that, was in not realizing how Jesus (her visitor) wished to be received.

Mary correctly sensed that when Jesus came to visit them, on His way to Jerusalem, what He wanted was not food, but conversation. So, while Martha made the greater effort at housekeeping, Mary knew better what He expected of her, in the moment. Her “contemplative intuition” grasped instinctively the main reason for Jesus’ visit: He was there not to receive, but to give; not to be served, but to serve. He had something to say and He wanted them to listen. Can you think of a better posture on our part, when we gather for Mass on Sundays, than sitting on the edge of our pews, trusting that Jesus has something to say to us – and He wants us to listen?

***

En la Misa del domingo, vamos a escuchar, en Lucas 10, 38-42, el episodio cuando Jesús fue a Betania para visitar con las hermanas Marta y María. 

Jesús alaba a María porque ha sabido centrarse en su vida, buscando lo único necesario, y escogiendo la parte mejor. No siempre la parte necesaria es la mejor. Pero en este caso sí. 

Probablemente el “error” de Marta es querer reducir todo al servicio práctico y pretender que es lo único que uno debe hacer y no perder el tiempo como su hermana. Eso es lo que le pierde a Marta. Quiere imponer su punto de vista a su hermana y para ello busca el apoyo de Jesús. Jesús no se lo da. María, en cambio, respeta lo que Marta está haciendo y no le pide dejar de moverse y venir a sentarse a los pies de Jesús para escucharlo.

Antes de venir a Misa el domingo, favor de pensar en lo que hacemos cada ocho días en la iglesia: la escucha de la palabra de Dios; la participación en el banquete (que el Señor prepara para nosotros); y el envío a hacer presente el amor de Dios que hemos experimentado. ¡Así vivimos en plenitud toda la riqueza de vida católica!