Priorities for People of the Book

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate strongly in our experience at this time. We read the Prophet Jeremiah who mourns and pleads for mercy for his people who find only death and destruction in their land as it seems that God has abandoned them to the destruction of foreign invaders. This may be the very state of many believers today, particularly in Gaza and Israel as Jew, Muslim and Christian can all reflect on the message of Jeremiah as people who all recognize him as prophet. The decision by people to put political gain, power and privilege ahead of attention to the Word and will of God brings the same result in 2014 as it did in the time of the Assyrian conquest of Judah. The theme of placing God first and attending to those in need around us is core to the mission of the believers who read Jeremiah. The passage from the Gospel of Luke helps us to reflect on the particular relationship of Jesus with Martha, who is commemorated as saint today. The declaration made by Jesus that Mary, Martha’s sister had chosen the best action by attending to Him is reported by Nate Romano SJ as reminiscent of situations where we have seen friends and family struggle to have the perfect dinner miss the actual dinner. The need to review our priorities and attend to first things first is the message from the homily of Fr Tommy Lane which addresses this text. Security, resources to survive, hospitality, respect and common sense may vie to be considered in our reflection on the first things. Lives which are directed to the Love of God and neighbour will be striving for the peace and joy of the Kingdom today.