Genesis 18:1-10 / Colossians 1:24-28 / Luke 10:38-42
The ability to see is a really wonderful gift and it certainly must not be taken for granted.
So, with our eyes, we look at things, we look at people, and from what we see, we form our opinions.
When we look at something good and beautiful, we will admire it and we will say nice things about it.
But when we see something that is irritating or annoying us, then, obviously we would not have nice or good things to say about it.
So, with our eyes we look at people and situations, and we form our opinions as well as make our judgments.
But all this while, as we look around and form our opinions, we may have forgotten what our eyes are really for.
Of course, we know that we have eyes so that we can see.
But could it be that we are seeing too much, and just like when we eat too much and the stomach becomes bloated, could we be seeing too many things at once and getting distracted?
In the gospel, Martha welcomed Jesus into her home and she began to serve Him.
Martha had a sister, Mary, and she sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to Him speaking.
What Martha saw was Mary sitting at the Lord's feet, listening to Him speak and having an enjoyable time.
More than that, she saw Jesus waiting to be served and probably she was getting anxious.
Then, she saw that she wants the only one doing all the serving and no one was helping.
So, finally, Martha couldn't take it anymore, and so she complained to Jesus, saying that He did not care that Mary was not doing anything to help her.
Obviously, Martha was distracted with too many things. She was looking at too many things, thinking about too many things, and then everything came crashing and she ended up complaining.
So, Jesus had this to say to her, “Martha, Martha, you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part, it will not be taken from her.”
But, what is this better part that Jesus is talking about? Is it to be like Mary and sit down and spend the whole time praying, while others are busy doing everything?
Maybe some are called to be intercessors and to the contemplative life, and hence they spend most of their time praying for others.
But to choose the better part is to choose to focus on one thing and not to be distracted by everything.
So, if Martha had just kept her focus on the serving, she would not have ended up complaining.
When we lose focus, it means that we are looking at too many things at once, and we get distracted.
Distraction is a tool that the devil uses to make us lose our focus on Jesus.
And often, the result of distraction is that we complain and say things that are hurtful and useless.
Let us ask Jesus to keep our eyes focused on what He wants us to do, and not to be distracted and end up complaining.
Our eyes are a gift from God.
May we see God in everything and see God's blessings in everyone.
Let us focus on that, and it will be the best part for us.