Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to His Word. And the Lord Himself declares that what she had chosen was the one thing necessary, the better part, which no one could take away from her.

There is nothing more necessary than remaining at Jesus’ feet. Nothing greater than listening to His voice. Nothing more beautiful than contemplating the way He looks at you and discovering, in that gaze, the love with which you have been loved from all eternity; contemplating the Heart that loved you first.

I like to imagine that scene: how would Mary have looked at Jesus? How would she have drunk in every one of His words, knowing that before her stood the One who is Life itself? She would not have listened simply to know more, but to love more.

And how would Jesus have looked at that woman who, from the moment He entered her home, had surrendered herself at His feet? Mary had chosen the better part. But I would almost dare to say that, for Jesus too, it was a precious part: to have there a heart that wanted simply to be with Him, a soul that did not come first to ask Him for anything, but simply to look at Him, listen to Him and love Him.

How deeply Christ thirsts for us to remain with Him! And how much we need it ourselves!

Perhaps we busy ourselves trying to do many things for Jesus and forget that, before our works, He wants our hearts. We want to rush out to love, but how can we love with His Love if we have not first remained close to Him, the source of true love?

We learn to love at Jesus’ feet. It is there that we allow His Word to illuminate our hearts, enabling us to see our judgements, our fears and our self-love.

Let us be with Him. Let us remain in His Heart, and from there, with Him, let us go wherever He sends us.

Brought Down to Married Life

Emily: It’s true that we always have so much to do, and I get overwhelmed too. But honestly, I don’t think the problem is what we do, but what we don’t do.

Jack: What do you mean?

Emily: Well, if before doing everything we do, we spent time with the Lord in prayer, we wouldn’t be the way we are. The problem isn’t that we do too many things; it’s that we don’t pray.

Jack: Ah, so you’re reducing everything to that!

Emily: Not me. Jesus says it. Look at all these phrases from the Gospel that I wrote down the other day when I was thinking about this: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” “And you refuse to come to Me that you may have life!” “Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me and drink.”

That’s it. And yet we still think that saying, “Lord, help me!” while I’m driving the car counts as having prayed… No, Jack, it doesn’t.

Jack: Well then, what do we do?

Emily: We need to get serious about being faithful and persevering in prayer. Our mentors have told us a thousand times, and yet we’re so stubborn that we still think we can manage on our own. And above all, just think of what we’re missing out on! The best thing of all: a life with Him!

Jack: You’re right, Em. What can I say?

Emily: Well then, tell me you love me!

Jack: Oh, what would I do without you?

Prayer

Mother,

Teach us to remain together at the feet of Jesus, to listen to His Word with hunger, and to rise from prayer ready to put it into practice, giving ourselves to one another as Jesus gave Himself for His Bride, the Church.