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"Be Still and Know That I am God!" PS 46:10

Mary's Story 

We do not know too much about Mary from this story except to hear Jesus say that she, Mary, "...has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her..."  What is the better part that Mary has chosen?

Mary is at peace and sitting beside Jesus in the very moment and present to Him.  Not anxious and not worried, Mary sits with Jesus.  It seems to be that the better part is to be calm, living in the moment, and present to Our Lord and the people that we are with.  How does Mary come to this peace of being in the moment?  Has she prepared for Jesus' arrival or anticipated Jesus' arrival?  Did she spend the morning in the kitchen getting ready just in case Jesus were to come on that day.  Did Mary prepare every day just in case Jesus will come.  We do not know, as this story does not tell us what happened before Jesus comes to their home.  What we know is that Mary has chosen the better part.

Well that sounds simple, to always be ready and to always anticipate what is happening and what will happen.  If life were that simple, we will all choose the better part and we will always be at Jesus' side in peace and love as Mary.  Then why are we Martha most of the time.  Yes, we have Mary moments when we are at peace and present to Our Lord, our loved ones, and ourselves.  Many more of our moments are Martha moments when we are anxious and worried about many, many things - our families, friends, children, communities, health, work, finances, government, church, world, and ourselves. 

It is, only, in being with Jesus as we pray and love, even, with the anxious and worried that we begin to be transformed day-by-day inch-by-inch.  In giving all that we are to Jesus, even the anxiety and worries, we begin to know and choose the better part by living more like Mary than Martha and this will not be taken away from us. continues...

Reflections for Meditation Mary's Shawl in Simplicity and in Friendship When am I having Martha moments and when am I having Mary moments? What am I anxious and worried about at this very moment? What will help me have more Mary moments than Martha moments? How can I be with Jesus, present in the moment?

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