From the Heart of the Shepherd
From the bulletin for The Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2026 September 13)
Parish School of Prayer, Episode 26: At the Feet of Jesus
“Mary sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving” (Lk 10:39-40).
We all know the scene. Tell me: what was each heart of these two sisters filling with? Mary’s was being filled with one thing: Jesus’ words. Martha’s was filling up with anxiety and worry about many things. And, evidently, with some anger and resentment directed against her sister and perhaps even against Jesus, who was allowing Mary to do “nothing.” Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?
“You are what you eat.” What is true for our bodies is true for our souls. The thoughts we tend to nurse, the words we chew on in our hearts, have a direct influence on our mental state, and consequently on our decisions and even the kind of person we become. “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Gal 6:7). Martha “sowed” well-intentioned preoccupation with her objectives that day: to be a good hostess, to not let her guests down, to impress Jesus and His disciples with a delicious meal and a delightful time. She “reaped” stress, isolation, and self-pity.
Mary, in contrast, allowed Jesus to sow His words in her heart. She made a space of emptiness and silence; she made the soil of her heart open and receptive, clear of all ulterior agendas or earthly motives. What did she reap? Stillness and silence, peace and tranquility. But also: attentiveness to Jesus, knowledge of His person, and a heart afire with love and devotion. We know this because later in the Gospel she will perform that splendid and beautiful act of anointing Jesus with the precious nard the sisters had been saving for a special occasion. It’s not a coincidence that in this episode Martha thinks Mary is wasting her time; in that other, Judas thinks Mary is wasting that perfume. Mary, however, knows that Jesus is well worth both. The loving eye truly sees. Mary knew that Jesus was the “one alone necessary,” the one who alone is worthy. Thus she freely lavished that spikenard, just as she had lavished her attention on Him weeks before.
The theme that is intended to unify and give direction to all the “many things” that will occupy this spiritual family in this new parish year is A Family at the Feet of Jesus. The image is inspired by Mary’s position in this episode from Luke 10. It is Archbishop Hebda who has pointed us to that scene with his recent pastoral letter, Only One Thing Is Necessary. There, he calls the whole Archdiocese to help parents embrace their vocation to be the primary educators in the Faith for their children. In other words, to help families abide at the feet of Jesus, listening to His teaching and taking it to heart.
That will be our focus too. True, not all are parents. But all can strive towards that same goal. All Christians ought to be “regulars” at the feet of Jesus; all ought to choose, with our daily routines, to lavish attention on the One who alone is truly necessary. If we fail to, we will inevitably tend towards Martha’s predicament, busily divided between concerns about many things and filling up with anxiety, troubles, and probably some resentment and feelings of abandonment by God and those around us, who don’t seem concerned about helping us. But in the measure we join Mary and listen to Jesus’ teaching, we will share in her serenity and devotion.
What does that look like in your life? At St. Mark’s, we are blessed to have our “24/5” adoration chapel where we have the opportunity (almost daily!) to literally sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His silent speaking to our hearts. Oh, how frequent and attentive adoration can fill our lives with peace and make us truly fruitful in our active devotion!
Daily Scripture reading is another privileged means of adopting the posture of Mary. See the words of the Sacred Page as so many “seeds.” Even if the time of prayer seem dry, those words, if received with reverence, will grow within you and bear far greater fruit in the future!
For families, one could add intentional catechesis, personal and family prayer, “songs, hymns, and spiritual canticles,” bible and saint stories, special celebrations for feasts and baptismal celebrations, and something as simple as spending time in nature together and giving thanks to God out loud.
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