Daily Readings - Tue Oct 06 2020

¹³For you have heard of my former behavior within Judaism: that, beyond measure, I persecuted the Church of God and fought against Her¹⁴And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my equals among my own kind, having proven to be more abundant in zeal toward the traditions of my fathers¹⁵But, when it pleased him who, from my mother’s womb, had set me apart, and who has called me by his grace¹⁶to reveal his Son within me, so that I might evangelize him among the Gentiles, I did not next seek the consent of flesh and blood¹⁷Neither did I go to Jerusalem, to those who were Apostles before me. Instead, I went into Arabia, and next I returned to Damascus¹⁸And then, after three years, I went to Jerusalem to see Peter; and I stayed with him for fifteen days¹⁹But I saw none of the other Apostles, except James, the brother of the Lord²⁰Now what I am writing to you: behold, before God, I am not lying²¹Next, I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia²²But I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea, which were in Christ²³For they had only heard that: "He, who formerly persecuted us, now evangelizes the faith which he once fought.²⁴And they glorified God in me

Luke

Chapter 10

³⁸Now it happened that, while they were traveling, he entered into a certain town. And a certain woman, named Martha, received him into her home³⁹And she had a sister, named Mary, who, while sitting beside the Lord’s feet, was listening to his word⁴⁰Now Martha was continually busying herself with serving. And she stood still and said: "Lord, is it not a concern to you that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, speak to her, so that she may help me.⁴¹And the Lord responded by saying to her: "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled over many things⁴²And yet only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the best portion, and it shall not be taken away from her.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and our priorities in life. The first reading from Galatians recounts St. Paul’s dramatic conversion and his call to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. Once a fierce persecutor of the Church, Paul was transformed by God’s grace and became a zealous missionary. His journey reminds us that God can take even the most unlikely person and use them for extraordinary purposes when they surrender to His will. The Gospel from Luke presents a different yet complementary scene: Martha and Mary welcoming Jesus into their home. While Martha is consumed by the busyness of serving, Mary chooses to sit at Jesus’ feet, listening to His words. Jesus gently reminds Martha that while service is good, it is more important to prioritize time with Him. These readings are connected by the theme of response to God’s call. Paul’s life was radically redirected by God’s grace, and he spent the rest of his days spreading the Good News. Similarly, Mary’s choice to listen to Jesus reflects her desire to prioritize the spiritual over the temporal. Both stories challenge us to examine how we respond to God’s presence in our lives. Are we like Martha, getting caught up in the distractions and anxieties of the world, or are we like Mary, seeking to deepen our relationship with God? As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: What is the “one thing necessary” in our lives? In a world that often values productivity and busyness, it is easy to lose sight of what truly matters. Like Mary, we are called to create space for prayer, reflection, and intimacy with God. And like Paul, we are called to trust in God’s grace and to share His love with others, even when it requires stepping out of our comfort zones. May we learn to balance our active lives with a deep inner stillness, remembering that it is in sitting at the feet of Jesus that we find true peace and purpose.