What Is My First Priority in Life?

In this Sunday’s Gospel, we’re invited into the home of Martha and Mary, two sisters who each respond differently to the presence of Jesus. Martha is busy preparing, serving, organizing—all things that seem right and even necessary. Mary, on the other hand, sits quietly at Jesus’ feet, listening to His every word.

At first glance, Martha’s actions seem more commendable. After all, she’s doing the hard work of hospitality, something deeply rooted in Jewish tradition. Like Abraham in the first reading, she opens her home with generosity. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that something is troubling Martha. She's not just working—she's anxious and worried about many things. And in her frustration, she even asks Jesus to reprimand Mary.

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things. Only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her.”

But Jesus responds with gentleness, not condemnation:
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things. Only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her.”

This moment is not a rejection of Martha’s service. Instead, it’s an invitation—a loving correction that redirects her, and us, toward what matters most: being with Jesus.

A Lesson in Priorities

Our pastor posed a powerful question this week: What is my priority in life?
It’s easy to relate to Martha. Life demands a great deal from us—family, work, ministry, deadlines, errands, and obligations. We often measure our worth by our productivity, by how much we’ve “done.” However, this Gospel reminds us that before we act, we are called to be.

Mary’s posture—at the feet of Jesus—is not laziness or passivity. It is intentional devotion. It’s an act of prioritizing the spiritual over the external, communion over busyness.

Jesus is not asking us to abandon our responsibilities. He is asking us to anchor them in Him. We are called to be both Martha and Mary—servants and disciples—but in proper order. When service comes first, we can become overwhelmed, resentful, or even disconnected. But when the relationship with Christ comes first, our actions become an extension of that love. We shift from activity to meaningful ministry.

Sitting at His Feet in Today’s World

In a culture that values hustle and glorifies busyness, Mary’s quiet attentiveness feels countercultural. But it is precisely what we need. Making time to pray, reflect, read Scripture, or sit in stillness isn’t wasted time—it’s a declaration that God is our priority.

From that spiritual intimacy, everything else finds its place. Our service becomes more fruitful, our relationships become more grounded, and our worries become less consuming. We move from anxious doing to graceful being.

Final Thought

So again, we ask ourselves: What is my priority in life?
May this week be a time to pause, reflect, and realign. Let’s choose the better part—like Mary—not by abandoning our tasks, but by rooting them in the peace and presence of Jesus. When we start there, everything else falls into place with deeper purpose and grace.

Prayer:
Lord, teach me to sit at Your feet even when life feels full. Help me to hear Your voice above the noise, to choose You before all else, and to root my work in Your presence. In loving you first, may I serve others better. Amen.