Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This weekend, we celebrate Co-Op Mission Sunday. We are reminded of that great responsibility shared by the Church throughout the world to proclaim the Gospel everywhere. We also realize that it is not possible to go everywhere ourselves. Thus, we cooperate with those missionaries serving in places far from home, who every day spend themselves for the salvation of souls, the building up of the family that is the Church, and who proclaim the Gospel with their very lives. Our cooperation this weekend is financial – throughout Fairfield County a special collection is being taken up that will be shared with the missionaries – and spiritual – as we hear the stories of our mission speakers being shared, we ought to be moved to prayer for their ministry and for the people they serve!

The Gospel passage we read demonstrates this twofold cooperation. Martha is busy serving. In her hospitality, she begins to feel the burden of the work. The material support she is offering is good, but along the way she finds the purpose difficult to discern. Mary, on the other hand, has “chosen the better part,” that is, to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him. No missionary can carry out his or her labors without first beginning in prayer. Likewise, we cannot be effective at bringing the Good News to the world without sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to His teaching. Martha’s hospitality and Mary’s contemplation are the two facets that should always complement one another as we take on the task of witnessing to Christ in the world. May our missionaries, and each of us, be endowed with that spirit that works tirelessly for the salvation of souls and contemplates the face of God eternally.

Peace,

Fr. Sam