Daily Readings - Tue Oct 04 2022

¹³For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.¹⁴I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.¹⁵But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased¹⁶to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man,¹⁷nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.¹⁸Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days.¹⁹I saw none of the other apostles--only James, the Lord's brother.²⁰I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.²¹Later I went to Syria and Cilicia.²²I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.²³They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy."²⁴And they praised God because of me.

Luke

Chapter 10

³⁸As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.³⁹She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.⁴⁰But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"⁴¹"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,⁴²but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will 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.