💖 HOMILY - OCTOBER 7 💖

First Reading - Jonah 3:1-10 

Gospel - Luke 10:38-42

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to get caught up in doing so many things that we forget why we are doing them in the first place? Life today often feels like a whirlwind — work, family, responsibilities, even good deeds — and yet, in all this activity, we can sometimes lose sight of the quiet voice of God calling us to listen, to be still, and to be renewed.

This is the heart of today’s readings — the balance between action and attention, between doing God’s work and listening to His word.

In the first reading, God sends Jonah once again to Nineveh with a clear mission: to proclaim a message of repentance. This time, Jonah obeys. He walks through the great city announcing God’s warning, and to his amazement, the people believe. From the king to the poorest citizen, everyone humbles themselves and turns back to God. What stands out here is not Jonah’s eloquence but the people’s openness — their willingness to listen and respond to God’s word. When hearts are open, even the simplest message can bring transformation.

In the Gospel, we see Jesus welcomed into the home of Martha and Mary. Martha, filled with love, serves busily to make everything perfect for her guest. Mary, on the other hand, simply sits at Jesus’ feet, listening to His words. When Martha complains that Mary is not helping, Jesus gently reminds her: “Martha, Martha, you worry and fret about so many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part.”

Jesus does not dismiss Martha’s service — her work is good and important — but He points out that listening to Him must come first. Without prayer, without time at the feet of Jesus, our actions can easily become anxious, distracted, or self-driven.

Dear friends, the message today is simple yet profound: before we can serve well, we must first sit well — before the Lord. Like Jonah, we must learn to listen and obey. Like Mary, we must learn to pause and receive. The world needs active servants, yes — but it needs rooted servants, whose actions flow from prayer, not from pressure.

This means carving out moments of silence in our busy days — to read Scripture, to pray, to listen to what God is whispering into our hearts. It means allowing God to guide our work, not just bless it afterward. When we act from a place of prayer, our service becomes lighter, our joy deeper, and our witness stronger.

So let us ask ourselves: are we more like Jonah before his conversion — resisting God’s call — or like Jonah after, allowing His word to bear fruit? Are we like Martha, overwhelmed by activity, or like Mary, centered in the presence of Christ?

May we learn to balance both — to serve like Martha, but with the heart of Mary. For in listening to Jesus, we discover the strength to live our mission with peace, purpose, and joy. Then, our actions will not just be busy, but blessed.