24 July 2025

Jesus visits the home of Mary and Martha. They both have something valuable to contribute to his visit. Mary’s gift of listening is largely undervalued in our world where people long to have a listening ear.

The ministry of hospitality – the warm welcome, the generous invitation, the willingness to set a table, cook a meal, wash the dishes is often undervalued. But it’s through these gifts that the world is fed and watered and Jesus is known in the breaking of bread!

The difference between the sisters was not that listening was more important than exercising a ministry of hospitality but that the one was content in what she was doing and the other was not. Martha lacked joy in her work.

‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?’ Tell her then to help me.’  Jesus describes Martha as ‘worried and distracted by many things’. She not only lacks joy but she lacks the attentiveness which Jesus describes as ‘the better part’.

Being attentive requires two things – being alert with all our senses attuned to the present moment and being receptive with our whole being open to receive the needs and gifts of the other.

Attentiveness and joy – these are the twin graces which the world lacks and which Jesus celebrates. They are born out of the humble acceptance of our true size and our willingness to fulfil what is in our gift  to do  joyfully.

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