Need of One Thing
July 20, 2025 at 8:51 a.m.
Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Most of us have heard Sunday’s Gospel story about Martha and Mary. It is a lesson we have heard time and time again, this call to quiet the busyness. The Lord tells Martha, “You are anxious about many things. There is need of only one thing.” How many things are you anxious about?
I know I am anxious about a lot right now. Every summer my husband and I get so busy with camps. He had the blessing to spend a week on a mission trip with high school teens serving those in need. Next week we are both leading our own separate middle school service camp locally at our parishes. And we have a 6-month old son! These things feel all-consuming to me. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like there is room for anything else in my life! When really, there is need for only one thing this whole time – the Lord!
It is difficult though, consider Martha – what was it that she was busy with? She was serving the Lord. Her intentions were good! Jesus was her guest, and not only that, but she also knew that He was special. She wanted to serve Him. Similarly, all the things that I am busy with are really, really good things. Mission trips, service camps, and new life are things of God and for God. I, just like Martha, am serving the Lord. It is not always the case that we are pulled away from Christ because of sin or evil, or worldly things. Though those things certainly do pull us away. Sometimes we are even bogged down by good things that just become too much, consume us too much.
You can see how this burden has created a negative energy because Martha gets frustrated. She asks Jesus “do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?” Sometimes the task of planning and prepping a middle school service camp can feel burdensome, there are so many details and carpools, and materials for games, and all these different things we need to coordinate. It is easy to get frustrated. Maybe when a parent backs out as a driver, or when a camper has a lot of energy when you’re trying to talk to them, or high school volunteers who don’t clearly communicate their schedule when they’ll be there to help out. All of these things come from the negative energy that happens when we become overburdened. We can forget about the fruits that camp bears, the Saints that the campers learn about, the experiences of service, the moments of prayer, and encounters with Christ. Each morning of camp, I challenge myself to go to the Church and sit at the feet of Christ. To prepare for my day with the middle schoolers. To remember what it is all about.
The Lord is calling us to quiet the busyness from time to time. To sit at His feet and listen to Him teaching, just as Mary demonstrates for us. It is important for us to remember that even good things, when they become abundant and consuming, can sometimes take us away from the greatest good that is the Lord. After all, there is need of only one thing.
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Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Most of us have heard Sunday’s Gospel story about Martha and Mary. It is a lesson we have heard time and time again, this call to quiet the busyness. The Lord tells Martha, “You are anxious about many things. There is need of only one thing.” How many things are you anxious about?
I know I am anxious about a lot right now. Every summer my husband and I get so busy with camps. He had the blessing to spend a week on a mission trip with high school teens serving those in need. Next week we are both leading our own separate middle school service camp locally at our parishes. And we have a 6-month old son! These things feel all-consuming to me. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like there is room for anything else in my life! When really, there is need for only one thing this whole time – the Lord!
It is difficult though, consider Martha – what was it that she was busy with? She was serving the Lord. Her intentions were good! Jesus was her guest, and not only that, but she also knew that He was special. She wanted to serve Him. Similarly, all the things that I am busy with are really, really good things. Mission trips, service camps, and new life are things of God and for God. I, just like Martha, am serving the Lord. It is not always the case that we are pulled away from Christ because of sin or evil, or worldly things. Though those things certainly do pull us away. Sometimes we are even bogged down by good things that just become too much, consume us too much.
You can see how this burden has created a negative energy because Martha gets frustrated. She asks Jesus “do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?” Sometimes the task of planning and prepping a middle school service camp can feel burdensome, there are so many details and carpools, and materials for games, and all these different things we need to coordinate. It is easy to get frustrated. Maybe when a parent backs out as a driver, or when a camper has a lot of energy when you’re trying to talk to them, or high school volunteers who don’t clearly communicate their schedule when they’ll be there to help out. All of these things come from the negative energy that happens when we become overburdened. We can forget about the fruits that camp bears, the Saints that the campers learn about, the experiences of service, the moments of prayer, and encounters with Christ. Each morning of camp, I challenge myself to go to the Church and sit at the feet of Christ. To prepare for my day with the middle schoolers. To remember what it is all about.
The Lord is calling us to quiet the busyness from time to time. To sit at His feet and listen to Him teaching, just as Mary demonstrates for us. It is important for us to remember that even good things, when they become abundant and consuming, can sometimes take us away from the greatest good that is the Lord. After all, there is need of only one thing.