Today’s Gospel reading takes place at the very end of the tenth chapter of Luke which began with the sending of the 72 disciples.  To get a better understanding of it, let us take a look at their sending. Jesus had instructed the disciples to go out ahead of him in pairs to every town and village that he had intended to visit.  He commanded them that into whatever house they enter, first say “Peace” to the household. If a peaceful person lives there then peace would rest upon them. If not, then it would return to the disciple.

Matthew’s accounting of this sending speaks similarly.  “As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it.  If not, let your peace return to you.

We see that the word peace, as spoken by those sent by Christ, is not merely a greeting.  It effects upon those who hear it and those who accept it, the meaning of the word itself.  The greeting of peace is offered and those who are willing, experience that peace.

In the Gospel today, we see Christ entering into a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomes him.  But the first thing we notice about Martha is that she has not received that peace which would have been offered to her.  Her sister, Mary, is sitting at the feet of the Lord, listening to Him as He spoke. But Martha, burdened by much serving it says, asks the Lord to intervene in this perceived transgression.  “Lord,” she says, “tell her to help me.”

But Martha does not receive the help she requested.  Christ tells her that she is anxious and worried about many things and that her Sister, Mary, has only need of one thing and has chosen better in her decision to listen to Him.

The peace which would have been offered to the household was not received by Martha.  Perhaps Martha had been concerned with caring for the visitors. Perhaps she had been too concerned.  Perhaps she had been trying to offer them a special meal. Something she was doing in serving them was beyond her capability alone.  When Christ sent the 72 disciples, he said to them, “ Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you.” He repeats this: “Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you.” Christ stated this to the disciples because they were not to expect to be treated special.  They were not to expect to be treated as though they were important. The disciples were to “Share” in with what the households had. To share in with what the families had. To feel part of the family. To take part in, to share in that peace that the households experienced.

The gospel touches upon our inability to participate in that peace which comes with accepting Christ into our homes, into our lives, into our hearts.  The gospel hints to how the world, how the mundane, how the unimportant things in our lives ofttimes takes precedence over and shadows what is truly important:  That Christ is among us.

So we see that Martha was concerned with serving the guests, with being a proper hostess.  But what about Mary? She had obviously received the peace of the Lord because Luke stated that she “Sat beside the Lord at His feet.” This simple posture of sitting at His feet, a mere woman, sitting as one of his disciples, would most certainly have been scandalous had it not been Christ.  But the peace offered to the household had been received by all save Martha. Mary did not sit at the Lord’s feet because she did not want to serve -- though some of us may come to church with that in mind: go to church or do yard work, go to church or face the honey do list. Mary was there for one reason: to learn from Christ.  Christ’s message is so beautiful that it must be shared, that it must be taught to others, taught to all. Mary, in sitting at the feet of the Lord, was preparing herself to become a teacher of the word.

Many times in our lives we are faced with the dilemma of being either Martha or Mary, of either focusing our time and our lives on the mundane -- and in the process sacrificing our peace -- or focusing our time and our lives on the divine, focusing on Christ. Many times, though, we fail in our decision of which to pursue.

We, my brothers and sisters,  we sit now at the feet of Christ.  We sit at the foot of the altar, the foot of the cross, the foot of the tabernacle.  We sit before Christ as we listen to His teachings.

Ask yourselves this:

Are you at peace here?  Or are you thinking about what you will do after Mass?

Are you listening to whatever Christ may be telling you in the readings today? Or are you worrying about what needs to be done in your house or at your job?

Are you opening yourself to be moved by the spirit?  Or are you anxious over bills, over family quarrels, over a sickness you may have?

These things are important in your life, yes, but they should not take the place of Christ.  These things can only be resolved if you turn your life -- and your worries, your anxieties, your fears, your concerns -- over to Christ.  Only then will you experience that peace which Christ offers us all.

We sit at the feet of Christ. The gospel acclamation reminds of of Jesús’ words about the sower: Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart. For the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.

Think about what Martha and Mary received from Christ’s visit.  Martha, worrying and anxious and without peace. Mary, eagerly listening as the Lord spoke. What would have been the fruit born by this encounter with Christ? 

Let’s take it to a more personal level.  Here today, as you still sit at the feet of the Christ, listening, what fruit is being borne?  Does that peace offered by the Lord as He entered your home, your life, your heart rest upon you?  Or did it return to Him? Do the pleading words of Martha to the Lord, selfish in their speaking, echo from your lips as well: “Tell her to help ME?”

Or, like Mary, are you open to what is being said?  Listening, learning, heart afire with the desire to share that which you have been privileged to receive at the feet of the Lord?

As we begin the new school year, we need those with the peace of Mary, those with the desire to share with others what they have learned.  We need you, who sit here now at the foot of the altar, the foot of the cross, the foot of the tabernacle, to embrace with a generous and good heart, the teaching of the children of St. James, the teaching of our very own children. Much fruit shall be borne through your perseverance.

And as Paul wrote in the second reading today from the letter to the Colossians, “It is Christ whom we proclaim, teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.”

May the peace of the Lord be upon you and your household.