Run to Jesus

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, July 20th, 2025:
​Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Luke
10.38-42

​Now as Jesus and his disciples went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.

But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.”

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Yikes! How awkward for Martha! 

As someone who, like Mary, is more contemplative in nature, I feel vindicated when I read and meditate on this Gospel passage. On further reflection, however, I am convinced that I’m looking at it from the wrong perspective. Let us consider this scripture reading from another point of view.

What if Martha, instead of speaking up, had stewed in her self-pity and let her negative feelings towards Mary fester until the situation led to an emotional confrontation? I sympathize with Martha because I’ve been in her shoes, feeling like a victim whose feelings must be justified. What sets Martha’s reaction apart, however, is the fact that she goes to Jesus with her complaints: “Lord, do you not care?” Our God is a God of dialogue. He wants us to talk to Him. He wants communication from us. Be it praise, thanksgiving, complaints or cries, He is ready to hear it all. 

When we approach Him with the intention of communicating with him (prayer), He is ready to tell us what He wants from us, just as he tells Martha, “Mary, has chosen the better part.” Did Martha want to hear this? Probably not. When we open ourselves to an honest dialogue with God, it’s an opportunity not only for us to be open to Him but for Him to be honest with us. We may not always like what He prompts us to do but, rest assured, total peace lies in a complete surrender to His will for our lives. 

So, in the Gospel passage above, while Mary does what Jesus wants by sitting at His feet and listening intently to Him, so does Martha do what Jesus wants by going to Him in her “worried and distracted” state – and so should we!

Lord Jesus, you are my Builder and my Bridegroom! No one knows me as intimately as you do. Help me never to hesitate to run to you in my distress or in my ecstasy. Jesus, I trust in you.

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Rebecca D'Mello

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