Daily reflection _ in the presence of the Lord

IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD
All of us have wondered, “How does this story about Martha and Mary fit into our lives today?”  
Deacon John Ruscheinsky
When I was a little boy, we lived in a small town in North Dakota and attended Mass at a small country parish. I can remember a time when my Mom complained after hearing the Gospel we just read. “Indeed, Martha, Martha, Mom, Mom!!” she said. “Who would do the cleaning and cooking and washing around here if we Martha’s didn’t do it? Nothing would get done if I just sat and thought and talked about holy things!” I responded, “Oh, Mom! It’s your job to do that!” Well, I quickly learned that that was the wrong thing to say, and I truly learned a lesson – next time, keep my mouth shut and don’t think out loud! Needless to say, I was instructed on how to do housework for the next few days! Now, I truly know what all my Mom went through in raising eight kids; five of them boys who were experts in making messes!
Perhaps some of you women have wondered about this as well. All of us have wondered, “How does this story about Martha and Mary fit into our lives today?” Practically all of our waking moments are very busy; we have little time for sitting at the feet of Jesus. We would like to pray more, attend daily Mass more frequently, and read our Bible and other spiritual readings, but we just don’t have the time or energy. In reality, though, Jesus wants us to be both Martha and Mary. He did not say that when we work like Martha, we can’t pray like Mary, and vice versa. Their roles are related. It takes effort but it can be done, for “there is need of only one thing” (Lk 10:42a).
In the Responsorial Psalm, we prayed, “He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord” (Ps 15:1a). It is important to start the day right. If our Morning Offering needs to be short, we can simply pray, “O God, I offer this whole day to You.” It takes only a few seconds to make a more expressive offering, like the following: “O God, I offer You all my thoughts, words, and actions for Your greater honor and glory, in union with Your Son Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Redeemer.” Repeat this kind of offering often; not necessarily the whole prayer but the desire that what you are thinking, saying, and doing, be offered to God. Connect this with something you do frequently. For instance, every time you wash dishes, answer the telephone (cell), make a bed, or even while taking a shower, offer those moments to God. During this reflection time, decide just when, where, and how you will take a few moments each day to offer what you are doing to God.
The saints were busy people as well! To them, a hammer and saw, a pick and shovel, a broom and dust pan, a wash rag, writing materials; these were treated as sacred as the chalice and ciborium on the altar. St. Benedict laid down the rule that the monk in charge of the tools should take care of them as he would the sacred vessels of the altar. Why? Because their tools were the instruments with which his followers gave glory to God!
Our journey toward holiness is found in this spirit of serving God “always and everywhere”, as we prayed in today’s Preface. Mass is the ideal means of being both Martha and Mary. Like Mary, we are sitting at the feet of Jesus. Like Martha, we are busy joining in the hymns, answering the prayers, standing, kneeling, and sitting. Paul urges us to give God glory in everything: “And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (1 Col 3:17). When we’re sitting, eating, sleeping, and even when we’re entertaining our friends and guests remember that the Lord Jesus is also the Guest of our homes.
Abraham opened his home and welcomed three unknown travelers as he welcomed the Lord, Who blessed him favorably for his gracious hospitality. Jesus desires to be a Guest in the home of our hearts as well, just as He was a guest in the home of Mary. His presence is a gift that is freely given to us. Ask Jesus to help you be like both Martha and Mary. Ask Him to help you do His work in the place He has provided you, and ask Him to help you think of Him as you do His work.