How timely! In this Sunday’s gospel, Luke 10:38-42, the author highlights the importance of   prioritizing Jesus and His teachings over the busyness of everyday life—work, sports, social activities and more—over spending time in the presence of Jesus and knowing the Truth of His teachings. This is not to say that work or sports, the social and communal experiences or that friendships and other activities are not   important. We have to work to pay the bills, sports build great human qualities such as teamwork, and social connections make life enjoyable. That’s fact. 

What Luke is saying—and of which he is reminding us—that spending time in the presence of Christ, at Mass, in Adoration, in prayer time or meditation, are of the highest value for our individual human   development, for our family’s well being, and for our Eternal Life. It enables us to become, as Catherine of   Siena would say, “…Who God meant you to be.” And that’s a Fact, too! 

We hear of Martha and Mary and the different things with which they busy themselves. Mary sits in the presence of Jesus and listens to Him. Martha is busy with hostessing duties. Jesus speaks to Mary’s   priority—Him. 

So perhaps each of us could sit with God’s Word, read this gospel again—alone or as a family—and consider it anew: prioritizing the spiritual over the temporal; The dangers of distraction; Different callings; Invitation to reflection; and, Balance in life. Faith lived is not an “either or,” it is about priorities and the hope of eternity. Amen!