27th Week in Ordinary Time (B) : Tuesday 8th October 2024

A Christian can never cease to be in awe with creation. For beneath the surface of things, a quiet force of constant change within creation takes place. Such is the divine purpose of God when the readings today speak of a sense of wonder and awe at the power and presence of God. St Paul too recounts his transformation from one who was a persecutor of Christians to a preacher of God’s salvation to the Gentiles. One can feel his amazement at how far he has come through God’s grace. He recognises that this journey was initiated by the Lord to reorient his personal zealous disordered agenda.

The theme of wonder also resounds in the psalm reflecting on how the psalmist is fearfully and wonderfully made by God. He marvels at how God knows him thoroughly. If we can place ourselves as devotedly as Mary, learning from the Lord, listening faithfully to Jesus, we too would be enveloped in the same wonder and awe. While Martha was caught up in her anxieties and fears, as we often are today, the Lord gently pointed her towards the most important thing: to be grounded in the reverence of God and to be open to listening to Him. It is from that lesson of attentive listening of Mary to Jesus that will help us also attune our heart to His will and so we too can draw strength, courage, and grace from the well of consolation.

Lord, in the midst of distractions, let us listen to you to recognise our need of the only one thing.