An Anxious and Worried World
We live in an anxious and worried world. Often we are anxious and worried about things that in no way affect our lives. We watch the news, read the paper, and become anxious about things in the world. Just as often, we forget about these pressing events within a week. Yet we are also anxious and worried about the real day to day events that touch our lives.
What are you anxious and worried about today? Are you anxious and worried about your job or children’s education? How about your bills or the stock market? Are you anxious and worried about your transportation or the election? What else are you anxious and worried about today? Which of those things have you brought to Jesus in prayer today?
I have a hard time believing that Mary was lazy or aloof in regard to the world around her. Rather, she put first things first. The food could wait one more minute. The preparations wouldn’t be ruined if they were neglected for five more minutes as she spent time with Jesus. In fact, the work she does after may be even better. Her heart will be at peace, not anxious. She may do a better job because she will no longer have worries troubling her heart but will instead have love, Jesus, in her heart. Mary put relationships first, most especially her relationship with the Lord.
We live in an anxious and worried world. We live in a world that sees more value in production than relationships. Our culture encourages efficiency over beauty and production over conversation. This is why we text rather than call. Calling takes time and isn’t efficient. Yet, I’ve never heard someone say, “I miss her now that she’s gone, I wish I could just get one more text from Grandma.” No! We miss the person, the smile, the conversation, the touch. Martha lived in a similar culture and needed to be gently reminded that people are more important than production.
Efficiency is for machines, not people.
How could your life change if you (and I) were more like Mary and less like Martha? Would you find more peace if you spent a few minutes sitting at His feet and listening to Him speak? Would your daily routine benefit if it began with a few minutes invested in your relationship with Jesus? Would your work find more meaning if you first spent time talking to the Lord about the work ahead of you? Would your family be less anxious and worried about the world around them if listening to Jesus was a daily event, a daily conversation? Would our relationships with others improve if our relationship with Him improved?
Waste Your Time
Pope Francis famously said, “Waste time with your children, so they can realize that love is always free.” I love this quote and I would add to it: waste time with your friends, waste time with your spouse, waste time with your parents, waste time with your neighbors, most especially, waste time with the Lord. How must time do we waste scrolling through our phones? Get a time tracker and see how much time you waste! Would this time not be better wasted on people that you know and love and who love you!!? Waste time with your friends and loved ones by: sharing coffee or a meal, playing a board game, going on a walk, praying together, assembling a puzzle, creating art, reading and discussing books, sitting around a fire….
Jesus helps Martha, and us, to see that He must come first in our lives. He must be a priority each day, every day, even in the most menial events. He wants to be in our lives. He wants us to listen to Him and He wants to listen to us. He wants a relationship. Mary chose to “waste time” with the Lord. That is the better part and we should not allow anyone to take it from us nor rob ourselves of it. That is the better part of our day and, in the end, of our lives.
St. Mary, and St. Martha, pray for us and help us to chose the better part.
Learn to “waste time” with the Lord using my Free Book.
James M. Hahn, Author 