Finding Salvation in Jesus Christ – Oct 08 – Homily – Fr John Lawrence

 

Fr John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Oct 08, 2024, explaining that while serving others is important, our focus must always be on our relationship with God, as both Martha and Paul learned from their mistakes.

The common theme found in both readings is people mistakenly judging others for being in the wrong. In the first reading, St. Paul, before his conversion, thought Christians were blasphemers (Acts 9:1-2 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/9?1), while in the Gospel, St. Martha is upset that her sister, Mary, isn’t helping her serve but instead sits at Jesus’ feet (Luke 10:38-42 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?38). In both cases, they are corrected. Jesus gently explains to Martha that Mary has chosen the better part by focusing on what is truly necessary: loving union with God (Luke 10:42 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?42).

Father reminds us that while it is important to serve others, we must not lose sight of our relationship with God. As he mentions St. Augustine, Mary was absorbed in the sweetness of Christ’s words, while Martha was preparing a feast (Luke 10:40-41 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?40). The one thing necessary, the love that unites us to God, is the better part, which Mary has chosen. The Catechism of the Catholic Church also speaks of the importance of this loving union with God, as seen in CCC 2725 - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2725.htm

Turning to St. Paul, Father explains that his error was rooted in zeal for the law (Galatians 1:13-14 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/1?13), but he was mistaken, persecuting Christians because he believed they were abandoning Judaism. After his conversion, Paul realized that salvation comes only through Christ, not by observing the law (Galatians 2:16 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/2?16). The Catechism addresses this transition from the old law to the new covenant in Christ in CCC 1965 - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c3a1.htm#1965 .

Finally, Father emphasizes that we, too, can make the mistake of focusing on external practices while neglecting the interior relationship with God. Paul’s zeal was redirected to preaching the Gospel, and in his letter to the Galatians, he insists that salvation comes only through Christ (Galatians 1:23-24 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/1?23). This principle is supported by the Catechism, which teaches about the grace of God in Christ as the source of salvation (CCC 2021 - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c3a2.htm#2021 ).

For Further Reading:

Luke 10:38-42 NAB - Jesus visits Martha and Mary - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?38
Galatians 1:13-14 NAB - Paul’s former zeal for the law - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/1?13
CCC 2725 - Catechism on prayer as essential - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2725.htm
CCC 1965 - The New Law in Christ - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c3a1.htm#1965
CCC 2021 - Grace and salvation in Christ - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c3a2.htm#2021

Ave Maria!

00:00 – Introduction: Mistaken Judgments
00:22 – Jesus Corrects Martha
01:49 – Martha's Lesson: Prioritizing God
02:38 – Saul's Zeal and Mistakes
03:35 – Paul's Conversion and New Mission
05:35 – Paul's Message to the Galatians

Mass: Tuesday in the 27th Week in Ordinary Time - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/100824.cfm
1st: gal 1:13-24
Resp: psa 139:1-3, 13-15
Gsp: luk 10:38-42

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=962

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