Pastor's Note from Fr. Szparagowski 📝 - [Jul 20th Bulletin]

Dear St. Philip Neri Friends and Family,

We give praise and thanks to God for the graces and blessings He has given us. Today's gospel brings us into the home of two sisters, Martha and Mary. It is a familiar scene. Jesus arrives, and each sister responds to Him in her own way. Martha busies herself with the work of hospitality. She prepares the meal, serves the guests, and makes sure everything is in order. Mary, on the other hand, simply sits at the feet of Jesus, listening to Him speak.

It is not hard to relate to Martha. Many of us live in a world full of responsibilities, deadlines, and constant motion. We know the importance of getting things done. We often measure our value by how productive we are, Martha is doing something good. She is serving Jesus. But in her busyness, she becomes frustrated, even resentful. She complains to Jesus, asking Him to tell Mary to help her. Jesus responds gently, but firmly. "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."

This moment in the Gospel is not a criticism of service, nor is it a condemnation of Martha. After all, service and hospitality are important parts of the Christian life. Jesus Himself says He came not to be served, but to serve. The issue is not what Martha is doing, but what is going on in her heart. She is anxious. She is distracted. She is missing the presence of the very person she is working so hard to serve. In trying to do things for Jesus, she is missing the opportunity to be with Him.

Mary in contrast, places herself at the feet of the Lord. She is still. She is listening. She is present. She has chosen the better part – not because sitting is better than serving, but because being in relationship with Christ is the foundation of everything we do. This Gospel is a reminder that our special lives are not defined by how busy we are, but by how present we are to God. Prayer, silence, and contemplation are not luxuries for the few, but necessities for all. If we try to serve the Lord without first spending time with Him, we will end up like Martha, anxious, resentful, and burned out.

We live is a noisy world that prizes speed and productivity. But Jesus invites us to slow down. He invites us to sit with Him, listen to His voice, to let Him love us. From that place of intimacy, all our actions flow with peace and purpose. The story of Martha and Mary is not an either-or. It is not a competition between action and contemplation. It is a call to balance. We are called to be both active and prayerful. But everything we do should flow from our relationship with Christ.

So, today, let us ask ourselves: Are we too busy to sit at the feet of Jesus? Are we doing good things, but missing the better part? Let us not allow our work to become a substitute for worship. Let us be people who serve with joyful hearts because we have first received the love of God in silence and prayer. May we, like Mary, choose the better part, time with Jesus, and may that choice shape everything else we do.

Please invite someone to Mass today. St. Philip Neri, pray for us!

Have a blessed day,

Fr. Szparagowski