LK 10,38-42

Stand in God’s presence. God is present here and now, looking upon you with love.

Ask for the Grace: I will beg God our Lord that all my intentions and actions may be directed purely to the praise and service of His Divine Majesty

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: Jesus is at the home of Marta and Maria. Marta is dealing with various home tasks, preparing a meal for the guest. Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus. And what are you doing in this scene?

Ask for the fruit of meditation: for the experience of being present in the Presence

1. … burdened with much serving

Jesus is a guest at the home of Martha and Mary. Martha, as a hostess, is absorbed in various activities which, in her opinion she should serve as the best possible way to welcome Jesus. Mary sits and listens to Jesus. Probably Martha also listens, but her attention to what Jesus says is limited, because she divides her attention between other activities. Each of them shows love to Jesus in their possible way at a present moment. Jesus shows Martha that the better way to be with Him is to give up other things at this moment and be fully with Him. It is different to be with someone when, during a conversation or meeting, our thoughts are in the future or in the past, when we deal with various matters, and different when we fully devote ourselves to the conversation. The other person often just needs our presence and being heard. We often hurt ourselves by not listening carefully to someone, because when we partially hear, we add to what we haven’t heard, and this can completely change the sense of what the other person is saying. Notice in this passage that Jesus is not telling Martha that she is doing wrong. We can say that the clumsy attempt to love is the beginning of Martha’s transformation (cf. Jn 11: 17-27). What is your love for your loved ones? How do you show it? What is your mindfulness of the other? How do you show love for Jesus? How does love of others and God transform you? How does your love transform others? What is your presence? What helps you and what hinders you from being present here and now?

2. One thing.

Many things are often in our thoughts, we need to do many matters, we are drawn to many reports, and we are very disturbed. However, there is one that gives me peace that makes me know why and for what I live. God, for whom the most important thing is me, not my failures and successes, but me. What is God’s place in my life, what is His one place (I am not asking about the rank of first, second or third place, but is there a place that is only His and what is it)? What’s your one thing?

3. Your presence and mindfulness.

Jesus comes to your home. Be present in the Presence as you can.

Meditation: St Ignatius encourages in The Spiritual Exercises No. 2 … Because not so much knowledge, but internal feeling and the taste of things please and saturate the soul, that is, we stay where we feel interior movement … and nervously do not try to go on.

The final conversation: Spend a little time at the end, being with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit….as you would with a good friend: sometimes talking, sometimes listening, sometimes being together in silence. Speak to God about your feelings. Remember that times when ‘nothing is happening’ can also be significant. When you’re ready, end your prayer by saying thank you or using words that are familiar, such as the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)–whichever feels right and comfortable. (The Spiritual Exercises No.54)