Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we gather to reflect on the profound importance of prayer in our relationship with God, the readings from Galatians and the Gospel of Luke invite us to consider how our spiritual journeys often mirror the experiences of St. Paul, Martha and Mary, the key protagonists today—each marked by transformation, distraction, and the desire for a deeper connection with our Creator.
In the first reading from Galatians, we encounter St. Paul, a man whose life was characterized by fervent zeal for his ancestral traditions. He dedicated himself to the persecution and cultural cleansing of Christians, believing that he was serving God. Yet, God chose him, called him by grace, and revealed His Son to him so as to radically change Paul’s life who was formerly known as Saul. So completely transforming was this encounter that he even felt impelled to take on a new name—nothing new in Sacred Scripture. It wasn't through consultation with others or a swift transition that Paul found his purpose—it was a solitary journey into Arabia: “I did not immediately consult flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me; rather, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus.”
It was in the silence and solitude of that wilderness that a bewildered Saul, almost in a daze after his world had been turned upside down, began making sense of salvation history, because you see, only Christ is the true light which illuminates the entirety of God’s word, since He IS God’s Word—“In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God.” Paul had made the startling realization that now, his real life, a life in Christ was about to begin. Hence he began to converse with his newly discovered Messiah, the one and only long-awaited One of Israel, and in prayer, he began to delved deeper and deeper. This ought to be all of us, of course.
This pivotal moment teaches us that prayer is not merely a ritual, but rather, it is an invitation to enter into a profound relationship with God. Just as Paul sought God in the depths of the Arabian desert, we too may find that sometimes we must step away from the noise and clamour of our lives to truly hear His voice—that one voice of the Good Shepherd which brings clarity to the lives of his precious sheep. Our path may not be straightforward; God may lead us through periods of confusion or solitude to deepen our reliance on Him. In these moments, like Paul, we learn that our identity and purpose are found not in our achievements or past, but in our relationship with Jesus. This is how all-important our connection to Jesus is.
In the Gospel of Luke, we encounter Martha and Mary, two sisters who represent different responses to Jesus' invitation. Martha is busy, overwhelmed by her responsibilities. She is anxious, worried about many things, which is something we can all relate to in our day-to-day life. On the other hand, Mary chooses to sit at the feet of Jesus, listening to His words. Jesus gently corrects Martha, reminding her that while serving is good, it must flow from a place of connection with Him. There is “need of only one thing” – to be present with the Lord, a.k.a., prayer!
Just as in Martha's life, the demands of the world can often overshadow our spiritual pursuits, so in our striving to fulfill our duties, we may forget to pause and listen. Jesus’ words to Martha invite us to prioritize prayer, to invite Him into our daily routines, allowing Him to guide our actions and focus our hearts.
Given therefore our Lord’s words that beyond all our other responsibilities “there is need of only one thing” – prayer, should we not truly try to learn, and put into practice all the various ways and expressions of prayer the Church has provided us with throughout its inception by Christ himself? The Mass, being the greatest prayer of course, is so profound that within each Eucharistic celebration Christ descends from heaven in a tangible way so as to reside within our hearts.
Have we meditated on the treasure that is the Mass lately? The Liturgy of the Hourse – the ancient hourly prayer which keeps priests and all consecrated religious beseeching God on behalf of his people.. even this mode of prayer is one to look into. And then, yesterday, we celebrated another prayer which came down from heaven to us: the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary which so many saints have described as Satan’s kryptonite! And then there’s all the ways we can “personally” connect with God in moments of silence, petition, thanksgiving, adoration… awe… etc.
Do we see how many resources we have so as to keep our spiritual batteries charged? It’s only a depleted battery that becomes weak and sluggish, like Samson who thought that after sinning, he’d be perfectly fine and would deal with the Philistines as he always did, but in rupturing his state of grace, he was weak. Little did he know. So too with us, let us take to heart Jesus’ words to Saint Martha today and meditate on them: “There is need of only one thing” and like Saint Mary, (traditionally identified as Saint Mary Magdalene) let us pour ourselves out to him in his presence, and keep our relationship with God, vibrant, fruitful and the source of all our joy, peace and strength—a connection which then becomes a bridge to heaven and the vision of God face to face, and the joy of the company of his Queen and all the Angels and Saints themselves one day in paradise.
So, through Her intercession, may the good Lord impart to you strength and wisdom, a spirit of mortification and discipline, to learn and to cultivate a true spirit of prayer and adoration, such as the one he would seek in his true adorers – In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Go forth and know, that through prayer you will continue to secure your place in heaven. Our Lady, Queen of Contemplation, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
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