16th
Sunday in Ordinary Time
July
17, 2016
Luke
10:38-42
“There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen
the better part and it will not be taken from her (Luk 10:42).”
Few
weeks ago, I participated in a seminar-workshop on personality recognition and
development. The activity was organized by the ministry of Lectors of Santo
Domingo Parish and facilitated by seasoned speaker Sr. Leticia Garcia, DC. As I
expected, the test result told me that I was dominantly introvert, meaning I
was silent and more reserved guy. I found strength in solitude. I shared this
treats with many of the participants. Yet, not few were actually our opposite.
They were extrovert, meaning they were people-oriented and action-driven. They
were recharged in interaction with others. Sr. Garcia made a point that the
difference must not bring us into animosity. When properly developed, our
personalities shall complete each other and contribute in the service of God.
Reading
today’s Gospel, we encounter two lovely protagonists, Martha and Mary. Doubtless,
Martha was dominantly extrovert. She did all the chores. She was very mobile
and action-driven. In fact, she did all talk. Mary, meanwhile, was
predominantly introvert. She did nothing but listened to Jesus. She was not
even moving at the foot of Jesus. No single word was uttered from her mouth.
In
the story, when Martha complained to Jesus about her sister’s inactivity, Jesus
defended Mary. It seems that Jesus was favoring Mary over Martha. Does it mean
that Jesus preferred introvert people than extrovert one? Not really. Looking
deeper into the life of Jesus, we may justifiably say that Jesus himself was
predominantly extrovert. He was action-oriented, He did a lot of things:
healing, exorcising, feeding, doing miracles, and teaching. He involved in
people’s lives. He attended many parties, and even accused as a glutton and a
drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners (Mat 11:19)!
So,
why is it that Jesus said to Martha, “There is
need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part (Luk 10:42)?” I believe Jesus was not
playing favoritism. Rather, Jesus intended to remind Martha that she has missed
the point of serving. Not that being extrovert and energetic were wrong, but
she began to compare herself with her sister. Worse, she imposed her way as the
best option to serve the Lord. As she was immersed in herself, Martha was
losing Jesus.
Mary
chose a better part because she allowed Martha to be Martha, and to serve Jesus
through her unique personalities. She did not complain when Martha did
something different from her, because her focus was on Jesus not herself. Mary
refused the temptation to make herself as the center of activities and life,
create a little god out of herself. Thus, not only she allowed Martha to be
Martha, she allowed Jesus to be God. This is the best part.
Every
one of us, with our different unique personalities and talents, are called to
become Jesus’s disciple, and to contribute in building His Church. The Church needs
both the introvert and the extrovert. In fact, when we are working together, we
may contribute even significantly larger than our individual contribution. Some
of my brothers in the community are truly outgoing and enjoy to do missions and
preaching in many places. I admit I have to exert extra effort to go out
seminary, and a lot easier for me to spend hours reading and writing. We then
work together as I provide them with preaching modules and my friends do the
actual preaching.
The
danger is when we only think that our ways are the only way and begin to
complain about those who are different from us. We no longer think of Christ,
but ourselves, and make ourselves as little gods. We pray that we may choose
the better part as we work together to serve God and in our works and lives,
God is truly glorified.
Br.
Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP
No comments:
Post a Comment