Homily: October 7, 2025, Tuesday of the Twenty-Seventh week in Ordinary time (Lord-Speak to me)

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 “She had a sister named Mary, who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.”

What a beautiful image. Our Lord Jesus was speaking, and Mary was sitting close by at His feet, watching Him and listening with full attention. No distractions, no interruptions, she was fully present before Him, receiving, absorbing, taking in everything He was saying.

Years ago, when I was in my home diocese working at the chancery office, since I was not attached to a parish, I would celebrate Sunday Mass at a convent for the nuns.

After Mass, they would always invite me for breakfast. And a few of the elderly nuns would keep serving food to my table, and each one would keep asking me if I need more food, drinks or other things. They were busy serving me. 

Naturally, I’m a shy person, so having many of them surrounding me and constantly checking on me made me even more nervous. I could not really enjoy the food.

Deep down, I wished they would just sit around the table to eat together and have a conversation with me. But I understand that they belonged to a generation whose love language is service, so I simply let them do what they were comfortable with. It is also Asian culture.

And then I came to USA. I thought things would be different. I got acquainted with wonderful Mexican friends who would serve lovely homemade tortillas. Ooh…I enjoyed those very much especially when they’re freshly made and warm.

I mentioned this once, and the next thing I knew, at every dinner I was invited to, the hosts would prepare tortillas one at a time to keep it fresh and hot, then brought them straight to the table to serve me. You can imagine how that kept them busy non-stop.

And I would always try to tell them to come sit down with me and have a nice conversation. Because, at the end of the day, it’s not the food we remember, but the fellowship, the exchange of stories, the listening to each other’s life experiences that truly touch hearts and deepen relationships.

That’s what Jesus longed for too. He didn’t visit Martha and Mary for the sake of food. He came for friendship, for conversation, for a communion of hearts. And Mary too enjoyed that, she too wanted a deeper friendship with Jesus, to understand His heart and mind. Thus she chose to do nothing but to sit close to Him, to look at Him and listened to Him intently.

Jesus wants the same from us, not our busyness, but our full presence. Not our constant doing, but our intimate sharing of self and time.

Our Lord doesn’t need to be served; He came to serve us. What He desires most is our love, our presence, our willing hearts. He has so much to tell us, we should put aside everything, to listen to Him.

Mother Teresa used to say that her sisters must spend as much time with Jesus in adoration as they spend working in the streets. “We draw the strength to serve,” she said, “from being with the One who sends us.”

So, let’s take a few moments right now to do what Mary did to sit at His feet and say, “Here I am, Lord. Speak to me.”

Amen.


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