Homilies & Talks — Holy Spirit Catholic Church

Fr. Nabil Habchi, Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today’s Gospel presents us with a spiritual and practical model -- a life of prayer and a life of work. The life of prayer is represented by Mary and the life of work is represented by Martha. Like a bird that cannot fly with a single wing, the Apostle Paul says, in fact, when we are with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work neither should that one eat. Therefore, the consecrated monastic life is basically a life of prayer and work.

And this is what St. Benedict, the founder of Western monastic life, founded. That Christian life needs Martha and Mary, that is a life of prayer and a life of work. But we often leave the tendency of extremism, leaving one reality and neglecting the other. That is why are always called in the Christian life to ask God for the grace of spiritual balance and Divine Wisdom, so that we can reconcile them.

As Jesus said, But this you should have done without neglecting the others. Many people say that work is a prayer and there is not enough time to pray. But you must realize that in order for our work be transformed into a mission and prayer, we are called to pray. Our work also turns into prayer when we complete our work in the best possible way.

When we enter into the life of God in the midst of our daily lives, we no longer differentiate between the time of prayer and the time of work. But our whole life becomes immersed in the presence of God. And this is what the saints have experienced. And it is not impossible.

Finally, we must consider that Jesus said in the Gospel, Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. Their inexpressive story, inspired by today's Gospel, that says a doctor walking on the beach met a fisherman and told him that he stayed and experienced everything. But with no experience about the sea. He asked the fishermen if they can take him on a trip in his boat and welcomed him. The fisherman went with the doctor by boat.

The doctor asked, do you know astronomy? The fisherman answered that he does not know. The doctor said, you lost a quarter of your life with no advantage.

Then the doctor asked, do you know history? The fisherman answered that he does not know. The doctor said, you lost a life, a half of your life, with no advantage.

Then the doctor asked, do you know astronomy? The fisherman answered that he does not know. The doctor said, you lost three quarters of your life with no advantage.

Then the doctor wanted to ask the fourth question. Suddenly the sea rose and the boat was drowning. The doctor was scared and terrified and said, what can I do? The fisherman asked, do you know how to swim? The doctor said, he doesn't know. The fisherman said, now you will lose all your life.

This story of each one of us. We experience everything, we study everything. They are very important.

But we forget the main thing that will make us float in the sea of the world. And this is God.

Finally, let us ask God today, so that through the intercession of Sts. Martha and Mary, to grant us a spirit of understanding, discernment, spiritual balance in all things, and freedom from all exaggeration, obsession and deviation. And we neglect our daily lives so that we can be spiritual people who live in the perfect harmony between worldly life and spiritual life.

Homilies & Talks by Fr. Jonathan Perrotta, Fr. John Rocus,

Dcn. Jerry Brennan and Others