THE DAILY GOSPEL
October 6, 2015 (Tuesday)
Ps 130:1b-2, 3-4ab, 7-8 If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can
stand? 27th Week in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 3/(Green/White) St. Bruno, priest/Bl. Marie-Rose
Durocher, virgin 1st Reading: Jon 3: 1- 10
The word of Yahweh came to Jonah a second time: “Go to Nineveh, the great city, and announce to them the message I give you.”
In obedience to the word of Yahweh, Jonah went to Nineveh. It was a very large city, and it took three days just to cross it. So Jonah walked a single day’s journey and began proclaiming, “Forty days more and Nineveh will be destroyed.”
The people of the city believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
Upon hearing the news, the king of Nineveh got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes. He issued a proclamation throughout Nineveh:
“By the decree of the king and his nobles, no people or beasts, herd or flock, will taste anything; neither will they eat nor drink. But let people and beasts be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call aloud to God, turn from his evil ways and violence. Who knows? God may yet relent, turn from his fierce anger and spare us.”
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened upon them. Gospel: Lk 10: 38- 42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he entered a village and a woman called Martha welcomed him to her house. She had a sister named Mary who sat down at the Lord’s feet to listen to his words. Martha, meanwhile, was busy with all the serving and finally she said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work? Tell her to help me!”
But the Lord answered, “Martha, Martha, you worry and are troubled about many things, whereas only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her.” Reflection:
What do we think: Are we Martha? Are we Mary? The correct answer should be: Neither. We are we, but the examples from the Bible and the words of Jesus are written for our spiritual reflection and edification.
In some sense we are Martha; many times we have been angry with our brothers and sisters for not helping us in our stressful work. The words of Martha have been our own expressions before our superiors. Today we receive Jesus’ lesson: Let us put order and peace in our work.
In some sense, we are Mary; every day we have moments of sitting at the feet of the Lord, just listening to his voice and praying. Jesus reinforces the contemplative aspect of our Christian vocation and encourages us to remain faithful. Prayer puts us in contact with eternal life.
Hence, we perceive better both the active aspect— service— and the contemplative aspect— prayer of our life. Let us deepen it according to the personal name we received from the Lord.