Distraction(Luke 10:40)


The story of Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus who lived in Bethany, is a familiar one to us. We've all heard this story being told to us from a young age. I remember this story being taught to me in grade school, and I remember it being taught to me in religion class in high school. As a college student, there was a priest who gave a weekly bible study I attended ¡V and I remember him teaching from this passage as well.

Mary, Martha's sister ¡V was always pointed out to be the one who chose the better option. The message I was taught was this: Contemplation on the words of Christ, is a more valuable effort, then all of the physical work that could be done for Christ. But that's not what this Gospel is about, and that's not the message Christ is conveying when He says "Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her."

A careful reading of the Gospel itself will reveal thee authentic message. It says that Mary "sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teachings. But Martha was distracted with much serving." Most people zero-in on the two words "listening" and "serving." Mary was listening, while Martha was serving. Most people erroneously start thinking that these are apparent "opposites." But that's not what the Gospel is truly saying. Yes, Martha was serving, but the key word is "distracted." Martha was distracted with serving. She could have been doing a number of things. The point is she was distracted.

Distraction means that our attention is focused on one thing, when in fact, it should be focused on another, more important thing. Little Johnny is receiving a lesson in addition and subtraction from his teacher, but little Johnny is staring out the window at a squirrel eating an acorn. He's distracted from what he should be doing. The end result is that Johnny will not do well on his math test, and may, in fact, fail the subject. Johnny did not choose the "good portion," because he did not choose what he should be doing.

Distraction can cause us, a host of problems. Some 15 years ago, I was exiting 281 near the airport, and at that moment a jet flew overhead. I had seen a million of them before, but I looked up to see the plane because it was about to land. And a few seconds later, I had smashed into the back of a BMW which had applied the breaks. That distraction cost me dearly. And on top of it, the driver was a lawyer!

Distraction from our assigned tasks can cause havoc. If we do not do what we SHOULD be doing, we suffer, and those around us, suffer. We know this to be true in earthly things, and it applies also in spiritual things. This is the point of today's Gospel: we must not allow ourselves to be distracted, from hearing the word of God and, consequently, acting upon it. We must hear the word of God. Why, because God is speaking it. Mary could do the works of God, why, because she first listened to the word of God. It's impossible to do the work of the Lord without first listening to what the Lord is telling us to do. That's why it's impossible for us to do the work of Christ and at the same time, ignore the voice of Christ speaking through His Church.

A lot of people today claim they are "spiritual," but they're not "religious." What a bizarre mentality. This is a false separation which will lead nowhere except, perhaps a self-made religion based only on what a person "feels" is right. That way of thinking has led to the following: The person believes in God, but he doesn't go to Mass. The person trusts in God, but makes all of his financial and personal decisions by himself. The person is moral and ethical, but at the same time can support and defend abortion-on-demand, euthanasia, stem-cell research on embryos, contraception and any other thing which that persons deems as acceptable. People who think this way, and still think of themselves as "spiritual," have deluded themselves with lies. They have allowed themselves to be distracted with many things. To be distracted in the spiritual realm, will mean that the word of God is not able to penetrate the soul. To be distracted in the spiritual realm means that the word of God has little or no place in our actions or in our lives.

The story of Abraham in today's first reading is a case in point. Abraham was a wealthy man, as evident from the fact that he owned many hundreds of sheep and goats, and much silver and gold. He had a good life in an earthly sense, but he nonetheless, listened to the voice of God, and carried out his commands. Abraham left his homeland in Ur of the Chaldeans and journeyed to the land of Cannan. He could have been easily distracted by all that he had. He could have been distracted by his wealth or his lands or his many servants. Or the fact that he was old. But instead, he chose the "good portion," and followed the Will of the Lord. The scripture tells us, that for this act of faith, he was made the father of many nations. His reward was Isaac! If Abraham had been distracted in regard to the word of the Lord, the history of the whole earth would have been so different.

The same is true of St. Paul, who tells us in our second reading, that he became a "minister according to the divine office" which was "given" to him so that he could make the word of God fully known. Can you imagine what the world would be like without the actions of St. Paul?

These men did not allow the cares of this world to distract them from hearing the word of God and acting upon it. And this is the lesson for us today: We must not become distracted from hearing the word of God and acting upon it in our lives. We hear the story often: I have to work, and can't go to Mass. I'm too tired to pray. I have kids to drop off at soccer practice, and then I had to take the dog to the vet, and then I have to help my son with homework, and then I had to sleep. Not that any of these things are bad in themselves, but we can easily become distracted with many things, like Martha did in Bethany. But, is it not possible to consecrate all of our actions to God during our day? Is it not possible to pray for others while we are moving from one task to another?

The challenge of this life here, as busy as it is, is to keep our focus on that which matters in the spiritual realm. Choosing the "good portion" is not always easy to do. It requires a certain discipline and a degree of sacrifice ¡V but it can be done. We must not allow ourselves to become distracted with many things, at the expense of the word of God. If we do, we run the risk of not inheriting eternal life.

The Lord is not asking you to push your children or spouse aside and pray all day. The Lord is not asking you forsake your family and run off to Africa to dispense grain to the starving. The Lord is asking you, however, to choose the "good portion" in your daily life to consecrate your daily duties as an offering to God. The Lord is asking you, to harmonize your life. To set a priority which favors Him above other things.

To order your life in such a way that distraction and needless cares and worries will NOT keep you away from His Sacred Heart. A life focused on the things which are above, is a life which has indeed, chosen the "good portion." And what is the "good portion?" It's what Mary chose in Bethany. It's what our father Abraham chose; it's what St. Paul chose. It is none other than the Lord Himself. It's who you and I must choose, if we hope to inherit eternal life. May the God who gave strength and courage to those who went before us, give us, His abundant grace, to know and discern what is indeed, the "good portion."