The WORD in other words (2006) by Father Gerry Donato SVD – Christ the King Seminary, Quezon City
Tuesday 27th Week in Ordinary Time
“Silence” is an important discipline that every member of a religious community, such as a seminary, should learn to value and practice. Why? Because without silence, it is difficult to concentrate on prayer, study, rest, sleep, reflection, and the important decisions we must make in life. Silence is therefore not merely the absence of noise; it is a sacred space where we become attentive to God.
One way of understanding today’s Gospel (Luke 10:38-42) is through the importance of spending time in silence before the Lord, listening to Him as Mary did. The Gospel tells us that Jesus was welcomed into the home of two sisters, Martha and Mary, who were His close friends.
Each sister expressed her hospitality differently. Martha welcomed Jesus by preparing a meal and attending to the practical needs of her guest. Mary, on the other hand, welcomed Him by sitting at His feet and listening attentively to His words. In the midst of her work, Martha became frustrated and complained:
“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me” (Luke 10:40).
Jesus used this moment to reveal the deeper significance of what Mary was doing. He gently replied:
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her” (Luke 10:41-42).
Jesus was not condemning Martha’s service. Hospitality is a noble virtue and an expression of Christian charity. Rather, He was teaching that activity must flow from a relationship with God. Before serving Him, we must first listen to Him. Mary recognized that the presence of Jesus was a gift too precious to miss.
What does this Gospel mean for us today?
Silence is becoming increasingly rare and undervalued. Many people find it difficult to study without music in the background. Families often eat meals while watching television (add: checking their smartphones and tablets). Even during prayer, we are tempted to glance at our phones or allow distractions to fill our minds. We live in a world overflowing with noise yet starving for silence.
Mary teaches us how to step away from the busyness of life and spend time with the Lord. Her example echoes the words of the psalmist:
“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
Jesus Himself valued silence. Frequently, He withdrew from the crowds and sought lonely places to pray:
“Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35).
Likewise, after feeding the multitude, He went up the mountain alone to pray (Matthew 14:23). If Jesus, the Son of God, needed moments of silence with His Father, how much more do we?
We all need periods of quiet in our daily lives. It is often in silence that God speaks most clearly to the heart. The prophet Elijah discovered God not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in “a tiny whispering sound” (1 Kings 19:12).
Perhaps this is why God gave us two eyes and two ears but only one tongue: that we may learn to see and hear more than we speak. Silence opens us to wisdom, prayer, and the gentle voice of God.
If we learn to treasure these moments of prayerful silence, Jesus may one day say of us what He said of Mary:
“Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken from her” (Luke 10:42).
Prayer
Lord Jesus, teach us the value of silence. In the midst of the noise and distractions of daily life, help us to find time to sit at Your feet like Mary and listen to Your voice. Open our ears to hear Your Word, our minds to understand it, and our hearts to live it. May we always choose the better part—Your presence—which shall never be taken from us. Amen.
