Sat beside the Lord

Jol 3,1-10; Ps 129; Lk 10,38-42

8 OCTOBER

Jesus lives his humanity with great, profound humility. It is proper of human nature helping the brothers, but also letting ourselves be helped by them. Jesus helps bringing into the house of men the true Word, grace, mercy, consolation, justice and hope of the Father. Men offer him what he needs for his body, in need of a few things, in truth: a stone where to rest the head during the night, a little bread to feed and water to quench the thirst. The excess for Him is a luxury and it does not belong to him. He has also handed over this simple style of life to his Apostles and disciples. They too must enter the houses of men carrying their supernatural and celestial wealth, but letting themselves be helped for the things necessary for the body and life. In this lifestyle St. Paul is a model for everyone. He lets himself be helped only for the essential.

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that now at last you revived your concern for me. You were, of course, concerned about me but lacked an opportunity. Not that I say this because of need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself, to be self-sufficient. I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress. You Philippians indeed know that at the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, not a single church shared with me in an account of giving and receiving, except you alone. For even when I was at Thessalonica you sent me something for my needs, not only once but more than once. It is not that I am eager for the gift; rather, I am eager for the profit that accrues to your account. I have received full payment and I abound. I am very well supplied because of what I received from you through Epaphroditus, “a fragrant aroma,” an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen (Phil 4,10-20).

Something does not work in the house of Martha and Mary. Exchange in the service is missing. Mary lets herself be served by Jesus. Having been served by Jesus, she knows how to serve Jesus. Instead, Martha wants to serve Jesus without letting herself be served by Jesus. She first enters into confusion, then into panic, finally into a foolish, insipient, unreasonable and instinctive reaction. She manifests all her impatience for a service that she fails to bring to fruition. Mary lets herself be served by Jesus. She knows how to serve Jesus. Martha does not let herself be served by Jesus. She does not know how to serve Jesus. This is happening to the Christians of our day. Having many of us decided to serve Jesus without first letting ourselves be served by Him, we are carrying on a breathless, confused service, lacking in all true justice and above all true mercy and charity. We are not able to complete anything. We complain, accusing others of inefficiency. Everyone asks others for the sanctity that he lacks and for the justice that it is his task to live to the full. Since we do not let ourselves be served by Jesus, we are consuming our precious energies in vain.

As they continued their journey he 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.”

Jesus warns us. Either we let ourselves be served first by Him and then we serve Him, according to true justice, true charity, true mercy and true holiness, or we enter into panic, confusion, foolishness and in the reactions of complaint to others who in our opinion do not do what they should do. Christians cannot ask pagans to do what they do not do. If Christians let themselves be all served by Christ, they would know what they are obliged to and would stop at their only exclusive service. The Christian will know what his obligations are only if he lets himself be served by Jesus. But today the frantic service that one wants to do leaves no room for heart and mind so that one places himself at the feet of Jesus in an adoring listening. We are in vanity.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints, arrange our hearts so that they let themselves be served by Jesus.