FIRST READING
“Why is my pain unceasing? If you return, you shall stand before me.”
A reading from the Book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 15:10.16-21)
Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me. Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts. I did not sit in the Company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because your hand was upon me, for you had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail? Therefore thus says the Lord: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them. And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the Lord. I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 59:2-3.4.10-11.17.18 (R. l7d)
R/. God is my refuge in the day of my distress.
Rescue me from my foes, O God;
protect me from those who attack me.
O rescue me from those who do evil,
and save me from bloodthirsty men. R.
See, they lie in wait for my life;
the strong band together against me.
For no offence, no sin of mine, O Lord. R.
O my Strength, for you will I watch,
for you, O God, are my stronghold,
the God who shows me merciful love.
Now God will proceed before me,
God will let me look upon my foes. R.
As for me, I will sing of your strength,
and acclaim your mercy in the morning,
for you have been my stronghold,
a refuge in the day of my distress. R.
O my Strength, to you I will sing praise,
for you, O God, are my stronghold,
the God who shows me merciful love. R.
ALLELUIA John 15: 15b
Alleluia. I have called you friends, says the Lord, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke I 0:38-42)
At that time: Jesus entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
In the Gospel Jesus highlights the need to contemplate God’s word without at the same time underestimating the importance of the active apostolate. In the story of Martha and Mary, Jesus would like us all to understand that active apostolate cannot take the place of prayer and contemplation in the life of a believer; hence, there has to be a balance between the two with greater emphasis on the latter. Our contemplation of the Lord leads us to serve others and at the same time our service to people leads us back to contemplating and experiencing the love of the Lord in prayer.