“We reflect on the many things that cause our anxiety and worry, and then
ask ourselves, are we focused on the better part?”
Choosing the Better Part
October 6, 2020
The reading today comes from Luke’s travel narrative. In the passage, Luke 10:38-42, we hear the familiar story of Martha and Mary. We are faced with the questions; Who are we in the story? What would we choose?
Jesus is pretty clear as he listens to Martha and her concerns about Mary getting off easy. I can imagine Jesus shaking his head and saying, Martha Martha….. you worry too much. Does He say that to us today? Jesus replies to Martha, “There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, and it won’t be taken from her.”
We reflect on the many things that cause our anxiety and worry, and then ask ourselves, are we focused on the better part? The question is, how do we pay attention to the moment, the moment that will take us deeper, and then take the action to which we are called?
We reflect on the many things that cause our anxiety and worry, and then ask ourselves, are we focused on the better part? The question is, how do we pay attention to the moment, the moment that will take us deeper, and then take the action to which we are called?
I was excited to choose this week to reflect on this wonderfully challenging reading. Along with the scripture, we also celebrate two of my favorite saints, St Thérèse de Lisieux and St Francis of Assisi. Their message speaks to me and I often gain clarity, insight and comfort from their actions and words. How many times I have read a quote that hit me, and find it attributed to one of these two saints. They, like Mary, listened to God’s call and chose the better part.
St Thérèse holds a special place as she was a favorite of my mom's. My mother was constantly saying St Thérèse’s novenas and she knew her prayers were answered when she saw a rose. She saw a lot of roses! In her last months of dementia she was often comforted by stories I’d share about St Thérèse and she was convinced she lived right across the street from her nursing home. I read St Thérèse’s
St Thérèse holds a special place as she was a favorite of my mom's. My mother was constantly saying St Thérèse’s novenas and she knew her prayers were answered when she saw a rose. She saw a lot of roses! In her last months of dementia she was often comforted by stories I’d share about St Thérèse and she was convinced she lived right across the street from her nursing home. I read St Thérèse’s
biography, “The Story of a Soul” during our final visits and I was amazed, even in her compromised state, how engaged and connected to her story she was, asking questions and repeating lines. Surely, they had a special relationship and I imagine the two of them growing roses in heaven.
My connection with St Francis started at a young age as I grew up with the Franciscan Sisters. Their convent was in my home town and the Franciscan ways were a part of our community. As a child I lived across the street from the Catholic Church and was influenced by the sisters’ dedication to service and the simple ways of St Francis. The town is still dotted with statues of St Francis. And how wonderful it is to live during a time when our church is led by a pope that follows in the steps of St Francis, even choosing him as his namesake! The following prayer, Prayer of St Francis, is really a list of choices.Perhaps using this list will help me as I go through my day to “choose the better part”.
I close this Touchstone with an update on this year’s MPB Family to Family holiday ministry. We are moving ahead with modifications in order to continue to raise up our seniors and school families while staying safe. There are many dates and moving parts. Don’t worry if as you listen, you don’t catch them all, we’ll post them in the bulletin and online in the coming weeks. Thank you in advance for your support of this amazing ministry.
~Ann Zimmer
Social Outreach Coordinator
Social Outreach Coordinator
.
In this same vein, as an accompanying song I went scavenging through my own archives to find a favorite piece that I used to sing fairly often. Not really a church composition, per se, it is a song by Stephen Schwartz about being open and prepared enough to recognize when something amazing comes along and being ready take a chance, make the change necessary and embrace the unimagined possibilities of a greater, joy-filled life.
I hope you are all continuing to be well and to actively and intentionally hunt the good moments and savor them when you can.
God Bless,
Fr. Pat
Tuesday of the Twenty Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel | Luke 10:38-42
Jesus entered a village
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
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.”
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
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.”
Restless - Audrey Assad
You dwell in the songs that we are singing,
Rising to the Heavens, rising to Your heart, Your heart.
Our praises filling up the spaces
In between our frailty and everything You are
You are the keeper of my heartAnd I'm restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You
I am restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You
Oh God, I wanna rest in YouOh, speak now for my soul is listening
Say that You have saved me, whisper in the dark, the dark.
'Cause I know You're more than my salvation
Without you I am hopeless, tell me who You are
You are the keeper of my heart
You are the keeper of my heartAnd I'm restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You
I am restless, I'm restless'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You, Oh
I wanna rest in YouStill my heart, hold me close
Let me hear, a still small voice
Let it grow, let it rise
Into a shout, into a cryStill my heart, hold me close
Let me hear, a still small voice
Let it grow, let it rise
Into a shout, into a cryAnd I am restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, let me rest in You
And I am restless, so restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You, Oh God
Let me rest in You.
You dwell in the songs that we are singing,
Rising to the Heavens, rising to Your heart, Your heart.
Our praises filling up the spaces
In between our frailty and everything You are
You are the keeper of my heartAnd I'm restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You
I am restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You
Oh God, I wanna rest in YouOh, speak now for my soul is listening
Say that You have saved me, whisper in the dark, the dark.
'Cause I know You're more than my salvation
Without you I am hopeless, tell me who You are
You are the keeper of my heart
You are the keeper of my heartAnd I'm restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You
I am restless, I'm restless'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You, Oh
I wanna rest in YouStill my heart, hold me close
Let me hear, a still small voice
Let it grow, let it rise
Into a shout, into a cryStill my heart, hold me close
Let me hear, a still small voice
Let it grow, let it rise
Into a shout, into a cryAnd I am restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, let me rest in You
And I am restless, so restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You, Oh God
Let me rest in You.
Faith Direct remains our approved partner so that parishioners can give electronically. You can securely register or update via this link. Thank you MPB for your continued generous support of the parish and our many ministries.
Please share with friends and family.
If you wish to subscribe for news and updates from Most Precious Blood, click here.