Today's Gospel Reflection

"The Ninevites believed in God because of Jonah's preaching."

When Jonah receives God's command to go to Nineveh to prophesy, he flees frightened by the magnitude of the mission, but fails in his flight. However, God sends him again, and it is striking that he does not remind him of his rebellion, but, as if it were the first time, he sends him to the great city. Thus God shows him mercy on him, forgetting his disobedience.

Jonah set out with little confidence, thinking it was a waste of time, but to his surprise, the people believed God when they heard his words and all were converted, showing such a change of life that God repented of the punishment he had prepared for them and forgave them.

How much we have to learn from this passage. All the baptized are prophets, we have received the mission to announce to the world the good news of salvation, but when this announcement implies denouncing bad behavior, we do not like it very much, as happened to Jonah and we turn away. Today, this Word of God is a wake-up call for us, because the salvation of many people will depend on us. In our environment, in our families... we have to proclaim the Truth of the Gospel without any double standards. How sad it would be if later we heard them say: "How can we believe if no one has preached to us".

"Mary has chosen the better part and they will not take it away from her".This Gospel passage is well known, and has been much commented upon. Martha and Mary represent two different ways of behaving in our relationships with people.

When Jesus arrives at her house Martha is concerned that she lacks nothing, but perhaps she has not even asked if she wants anything, she takes it for granted that she is hungry; Mary, she stops to listen to Jesus, focuses all her attention on his words and enjoys his presence. That is the best part that will not be taken away from her.

The Gospel says that Martha served, but it is clear that her service is not authentic, it does not spring from love, that is why she reproaches her sister. When murmuring arises in our heart, and even more if it reaches our lips, it becomes clear that our works do not seek the glory of God but human vainglory. If the driving force of Martha's service had been love, she would not have minded if Mary had not helped her. The things we do not do out of love crush us, put us in a bad mood.

Jesus is clear in his response to Martha: "Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken away from her," because love is eternal. To serve is an expression of love, but to serve reluctantly is rather selfishness. Let us not fool ourselves!