PRI Reflections on Scripture | Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus


Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.


Gospel 

Luke 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

Most of us have grown up in a religion that had lots of things that we were taught to do. Do this, do that. Finish this, finish that. And what it leads to often is a misunderstanding that the real work that we have as a church, as a religion, is to be in a disposition of radical openness to the essence of who Jesus is and thereby knowing who the father is.

We need to spend time pondering and wondering. Yes, service is important. We need to serve the needs of the people around us. But if we're only doing that, we haven't touched the heart of what we're here for, to be conduits of God's grace and God's healing power to those around us.

Closing Prayer

Father, there's so much that we all have to deal with, every day. And what I'm asking for is that each of us have the conviction deep in our hearts, that there is something more than just the work that we have before us. There is this thing called transformation. And transformation can only happen when we are fully aware of the divinity of God offered to each of us. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.


Kyle Cross