The one thing necessary

THE EXPERIENCE OF MARTHA IS THE EXPERIENCE OF most people engaged in work, being anxious with and so taken up by work. So, the option of Jesus, which Mary chose, is what every worker should consider if he wants to get the best deal in life and in work. What is then the one thing necessary in life and in work?

The answer to the above question varies according to the perspective one sees his life, and everything around him. What is most important for one may not be true for another. Moreover, what one humanly considers most important for him, may not also be the one thing necessary for him, since human reason is limited; it is only God's mind, who knows every creature on earth would also know what is best for everyone. What each one needs is to be united with his Creator, to be so close to Him all the time as if He is the only thing needed. In life and in every moment of it, like in times of work and activity, one has to be in the "presence of God", spiritually united with Him. On God's part, He does not fail to be present in everyone and in everything; on our part however, we oftentimes forget, or fail to be aware of God's presence in every moment of our day. There could be so many times in our life and work that we live on our own, we work as if our energies and strength to do our jobs are our very own; we make decisions on our work as if we are the masters of our life. In short, we fail to integrate the one thing necessary in our life and work.

Prayer is the moment when we can integrate the one thing necessary into our work. We pray when we put in the right intention of praising and worshipping God with the work we do each day. We get united with God when we are aware of His presence as we do our work, making Him so real as our boss or co-workers who interact with us at work. We are one with God when we work with the conviction that the Lord and the others are more important and valuable than our work itself, that we do not sacrifice them for the sake of our work.