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Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke 10: 38 - 42

Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to Him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered: “Martha, Martha,” He said, “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 is not to be taken from her.”

This Gospel passage often evokes a strong reaction from the listener, in favour of Martha or Mary. Mary’s attentive listening may be misconstrued as laziness; Martha’s distracted busyness as being a good host. Whose actions do you think would make a guest feel most welcome?

Like Martha and Mary, Christians are called to welcome Jesus in prayer. There are many ways of praying from silent reflection and traditional prayers to joyful songs of praise and spontaneous conversation. Consider your own times of prayer in school or at home. How do you deal with distractions so that you can be attentive to Jesus?

Listen to the Gospel again, considering the vital importance of each woman’s role:

Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to Him speaking. Now Martha, who was distracted with all the serving, said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered: “Martha, Martha,” He said, “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 is not to be taken from her.”

Reflect on the life of your school. There will be times of busyness and times of quiet. There will be opportunities for serving others and opportunities to reflect. How does your school balance time spent with God and time serving God?

When our time is balanced between giving and receiving, we can know peace. Let’s pray now for peace in places around the world where there is conflict.

Finally, let’s take a moment to privately offer any prayers on your heart for yourself, a family member, a friend, your school, a colleague, a pupil or their family.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Sacraments for 2022