Tuesday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time

MASS READINGS

A reading from the Gospel according to Lc 10:38-42

Jesus 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.”

REFLECTION

“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.”

What does Jesus mean? What is the one thing needed? Is Jesus referring to a thing or a who? According to the French theologian Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange that "the one thing necessary" which Jesus says Mary of Bethany chose "consists in hearing the word of God and living by it."

How does one do this? The Blessed Mother Mary gives us her example of how. Several times Mary's reaction to Jesus' words was "Mary pondered these things in her heart." The Catholic Church explains that her reaction was "an expression of intense prayer and contemplation of the events that happened to her. Therefore, we too should study and contemplate on Jesus' Words. We too should imitate Our Blessed Mother by seeking God in everything, in prayer and by practicing living in God's presence.

Almost every Wednesday, we (PAPA members) study Jesus' Word through the guidance of a theologian, Fr. Michael J. Truongluan Nguyen, C.Ss.R. These lessons are prayerful opportunities to understand, reflect, and contemplate the deeper meaning of Jesus' gospel messages. Even more helpful is the fact that we can ask questions and listen to others question which gives us more clarity to what Our Lord is saying. We can "ponder these things in our hearts" like Jesus' Mother did. FACE ZBS , face-to-face ZOOM Bible Study, is a wonderful opportunity to get to know and fall in love with Jesus.

Make a decision. As Jesus told Martha, "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.” Join us this Wednesday at FACE ZBS. Contact us at papa@papamio.org. for more information on how to join us this Wednesday,

Oct. 6th.

God bless you all!