Daily Readings - Tue Oct 04 2022

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

The readings today invite us to reflect on the call of God and the importance of prioritizing our relationship with Him. In the first reading from Galatians, Paul shares his personal journey of conversion and mission. Once a fierce persecutor of the Church, he was transformed by God’s grace and called to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. Paul’s story reminds us that God can take even the most unlikely person and use them for His purposes. His journey took him from persecution to proclamation, and he trusted in God’s plan rather than relying on human approval or understanding. In the Gospel, Luke presents us with the familiar story of Martha and Mary. Martha, busy with hospitality, feels overwhelmed and distracted by the tasks at hand, while Mary chooses to sit at Jesus’ feet, listening to His word. Jesus gently reminds Martha that while her service is good, it is Mary who has chosen the “better portion.” This passage is not about condemning hard work or service but about highlighting the necessity of prioritizing our spiritual life. Just as Mary chose to focus on Jesus, we too must create space in our lives to listen to God’s voice and deepen our relationship with Him. These readings encourage us to examine our own lives. Like Paul, we are called to trust in God’s plan, even when it takes us on unexpected paths. Like Mary, we are called to prioritize the one thing necessary—our relationship with Jesus. In a world filled with distractions and demands, it is easy to become like Martha, anxious and troubled. But Jesus reminds us that true peace and fulfillment come from sitting at His feet and listening to His word. Let us strive to balance our active lives with moments of stillness and prayer, trusting that God will guide us in all we do.