Choosing the better part

 

In today’s Gospel reading taken from Luke 10:38-42, Jesus tells Martha the words that, according to me, are wise reminders to us. “Martha, Martha, you are worried about a lot of things. Only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

We worry about a lot of things. We want to have everything under control. 

To want to be in charge of situations is not bad. In fact, it is a sign of maturity, of taking life seriously. The problem is, we have a mistaken way of understanding it. What we want in our life is often a fruit of a previous experience of joy, success, well-being, etc., anything that is positive. Our vision is limited only to that and we want it at all cost, closing our doors to other possibilities. So when something other than what we have focused our minds and our hearts on comes along, we are often unwilling to welcome it.

This is where the second part of the Gospel passage enters. “Mary has chosen the better part and no one can take it away from her.” What did Mary choose? Mary chose to live the present moment, to delight in the present moment, that is, in paying full attention to Jesus. It was okay to make meticulous preparations before the coming of the visitor, Jesus; but when the visitor is already present, “the only thing necessary” is to be there and be fully present to the visitor.

Perhaps this is the reason why children are naturally happy, because for them nothing else exists except the present moment, so they are just there and taking delight in it in ways unimaginable to us adults. 

Today's Gospel reading reminds me to live the present moment and delight in it. After all, there is no use in worrying about what is not yet in our hands, nor in crying for too long over the past. 

I have a hunch that when we are able to live well the present moment, to delight in it, to be grateful, without wanting to hoard it, our worries will disappear, or at least we can laugh them off. 

The only one thing necessary is to live totally the present moment. May we learn to choose this better part.