Playing Busy

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 21-22, 2007

Busyness of life
Over the last few months that I’ve been here at Werribee I've kind words of welcome and hospitality. Oftentimes people would ask me if I am settling alright here ofcourse my answer is a big "yes". People are very friendly but sometimes they ask me "funny" questions like what I do after celebrating Mass. There is an impression that a priest is ordained just to celebrate Mass. That was my impression too! Well, I am a priest now for ten months and I’d say the demands on my time and energy as a priest are relentless or at times overwhelming. In short, busy. But who is not busy? We all have work to do and tasks to accomplish be as priests, parents, employees or students. See, even our young children they are super busy too; they have to juggle their time on their home works, and other activities like music lesson, dance, sports, etc.

We live in a super-busy world. And because we are busy we want everything instant. We want everything and we want it now. We have instant messages, email, fax, internet. Time is so precious that we want instant food, education, job and money. We want things to be done quick, fast and better. We demand instant information, medical service, instant diet, and we even demand instant boyfriend or girlfriend! :)

Technology is supposed to make life easier and give us more leisure time. But it seems the more technology advances the more become busy and less time. We walk down the street, it's not ordinary to people without a mobile phone or i-pod to their ear. People are busy sending text messages to their friends even during meetings (Mass?).

We are too busy that oftentimes we want to do different tasks at the same time - multi-tasking. Oftentimes it works. For instance my eldest sister has a talent doing things at time. She can cook meal, wash clothes, while at the time feeding her 3 children. (I had a talent too. When I was studying I could write down notes and sleep at the same time during class).

Multi-tasking Mary
The Gospel story we have today reflects our business in our life. At the same time it teaches us that in terms of our relationship with God, it is not healthy to be busy or preoccupied with so many things in mind. When we want to serve God we need to make certain priorities, we need balance by doing things one at a time.

The story of Martha and Mary teaches us some wisdom on how we can offer hospitality to God and particularly how we can make Christ welcomed in our life. Jesus goes to the house of his friends Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus. Jesus comes as friend and as guest receiving two level of hospitality from the two sisters.

Mary & Martha
Mary arranges herself at Jesus’ feet and focuses clear wide eyes upon him, listening to his word, while Martha bustles in the kitchen about getting dinner ready.

“Martha and Mary are often seen as symbols for a balance of hospitality. Martha represents the tasks of preparation-cleaning house, cooking food, setting out the dishes and cups, and the like. Mary represents the personal care of the visitor-listening, paying attention, spending quality time in conversation. Both are important.”

But in response to Martha’s (exasperated) request that Mary help out a little, Jesus remarks that, no, Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken away from her.” Jesus is not saying to Mary that food or the chores of making meal are unimportant. (Personally I find food more important :). Jesus would like to remind Martha that she has forgot about him as guest, as she was anxious and worried about many things, and her mind was on work – like us, she was super busy!

“The moral of the story actually is this: real hospitality means a two-way relationship. Host and guest open to each other and become present to each other in various ways. Yes, hosts do work on the details, and work hard. But they always remember the visitor while they prepare. They do not become distracted from the reason for the food. Excellent hosts manage somehow to get everything ready but then to truly listen to and converse with the one who has come.”

Active contemplation
Both Martha and Mary play a significant role in their attentiveness to Jesus, while meditation, listening on Jesus’ word is accorded an essential preference.

Yesterday, I attended a special Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral to celebrate the 1 year out before World Youth Day in Sydney. The Cathedral was packed with so many young people from schools and parishes, together with parish coordinators and representatives. Bishop Prowse said in his homily “there is no greater encounter than to encounter Jesus in our life.”

Let us sink his words in our hearts....“There is no greater encounter than to encounter Jesus in our life.”

Mary, by listening to Jesus’ word, by contemplating on his presence, has encountered Jesus more deeply in her heart.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of our life, let us give hospitality to Jesus let us welcome him not only in action but also with contemplation. Contemplation means we need to find time to sit down, let us let go of worldly distractions in order to hear and understand Jesus’ thoughts and insights more deeply.

We need to meet God “face to face” at it were, because we are made for him, we are made for worship. We find our rest on in Jesus, as St Augustine says, “our hearts are made for you, O Lord, and they will not rest until they rest in You." Amen.