From Serving to Being: The Heart of the Disciple
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Luke 10:38-42
Now there was a woman named Martha who welcomed him into her house. She had a sister named Mary, who sat beside the Lord at his feet, listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “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.”
Grace Prayed For
This passage prompts us to pray for the grace to choose the better part; the grace to prioritize an intimate, prayerful relationship with Jesus above our many activities and anxieties. It’s the grace to be like Mary, to sit at the feet of the Lord and listen, allowing Him to fill our hearts so that our service flows from a place of genuine love and rest, not hurried stress.
Reflection
In this beautiful passage, we are invited into the home of Martha and Mary, two sisters who loved Jesus dearly. Martha, bustling about, represents the active, serving part of our faith. She is busy, burdened, and perhaps a bit stressed, all in an effort to show her love for Jesus by caring for His physical needs. We can easily relate to Martha. We are often so consumed with our duties, our to-do lists, and our “important” tasks that we miss the very person we are trying to serve. We may feel like we’re doing “so much” for God, but our hearts can become so focused on the doing that we forget the being.
Mary, on the other hand, shows us the path to intimacy. She sits at the feet of Jesus, fully present, attentive, and listening. Her posture is one of deep humility and devotion. She isn’t worried about the dishes or the meal; her only concern is to be with Him. This is the better part—the deep, personal, and loving relationship with Jesus that must be the foundation of all our actions. Our mission flows from this intimacy. We can’t give what we don’t have. We can’t share the love of Christ with others if we haven’t first received it ourselves.
Jesus’ gentle correction of Martha isn’t a dismissal of her service, but a reordering of priorities. He lovingly reminds her that while service is good, communion is better. The mission of evangelization isn’t about being busy for God; it’s about being with God so completely that His love overflows from us and touches everyone we meet. Our witness becomes less about what we do and more about who we are—a person deeply loved and transformed by Jesus. This transformation is what truly impacts the world. Our daily encounters become opportunities to share not a theology, but a relationship—a relationship with the Trinitarian God who loves us intimately and invites us to share that love with others.
Announcing Jesus in Our Lives
Evangelizing in Day-to-Day Life
Evangelization isn’t always about grand gestures or eloquent sermons. It’s about being a living testament to the love of Jesus in our ordinary lives. We can evangelize by:
Sharing your story: Briefly and authentically sharing how Jesus has impacted your life and given you hope can be a powerful and personal form of evangelization.
Being a good listener: Just as Mary listened to Jesus, we can listen to others with genuine care and attention, reflecting the Lord’s compassion.
Practicing forgiveness: Forgiving those who have wronged us and seeking forgiveness when we’ve done wrong models Christ’s mercy and reconciliation.
Showing patience and kindness: In a world often marked by hurry and frustration, a patient and kind word can be a powerful witness to the peace found in Christ.
Offering a helping hand: Simple acts of service, like helping a neighbor with their groceries or offering to pray for a friend, can open doors for deeper conversations about faith.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post