9 October 2007
2. First: Listening to Jesus is all that is needed. We can ask ourselves: “Why?”
Listening to Jesus in necessary because only Jesus has the words of everlasting life, and he who believes in him does not walk in the dark but has the light of life (Cfr. Jn 4:6; 8:12) The words of Jesus are different from those of any other human being, no matter how wise he might be, because they are the words of God, Wisdom Incarnate. And Jesus speaks his words to our heart, for the good of our lives. That is why Mary’s attitude is both proper and beautiful at the same time. She humbly places herself at his feet, in a listening position, lovingly, thankfully, in a way that is uniquely feminine.
Listening to Jesus is necessary because it changes us interiorly. It makes us different. How does it make us different? It makes us Jesus’ brothers and sisters. Remember the words of Jesus himself: “Who is my mother; who are my brothers? My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice. (Lk 8:21) That’s how Jesus Christ said it: Not only “my brothers,” but also “my mother.” Yes, also my mother, because he who listens to the words of Jesus and puts them in practice grows in love to such a point that he comes to love every single person, and behind the face of each person the face of Christ is hidden, not only with the heart of a brother or sister, but with that of a mother.
Therefore, like Mary of Bethany, and even more so, like Mary of Nazareth, the Mother of Jesus, we should learn to let his words have a place in our hearts. “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done unto me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38) It was this kind of acceptance of God’s word that brought Mary to become the Mother of Jesus.
3. The second reflection. Listening to Jesus’ words is choosing the better part.
Why? Because that is what transforms our lives: it works in us, what happened in Cana, when the servants listened to Mary’s advice and did what Jesus told them, is renewed in us. Through Jesus’ words, the water of our lives is transformed into wine. Our littleness becomes greatness. And we in turn are made able to help and give joy to those we encounter along our way. But that is not all. If we listen to Jesus’ words, they transform us into his very dwelling. Jesus himself said to his Apostles at the Last Supper, “If someone loves me, he will keep my words and my Father will love him, and we will come and take up our dwelling in him.” (Jn 14:23) We are the place where Jesus finds rest. Being ourselves the very dwelling place of Jesus, having him in our heart, does this not change the meaning of all our sufferings, our worries, our expectations? Does it not give a whole new meaning to our lives? It surely does. He who listens to Jesus does indeed choose the better part!
4. My dear brothers and sisters, this is precisely the experience we are now having, and that which unites us in these moments of joyful brotherhood. Here and now, we also see where we can listen to Jesus who speaks to us:
- in the Gospel where his words reach us, not as dead sayings, but as life-giving Spirit.
- in the Church, where the Gospel is proclaimed by the living voice of the Pope, by your bishop, successor of the Apostles, by the priests and deacons, their coworkers in the ministries of word and sacrament. And finally, by the indispensable help of catechists. Here and now, we, like Mary of Bethany, can also sit at the feet of Jesus and open up our heart to hear him.
5. And this hospitality we give Jesus is reciprocal, (even if far from being equal). While we listen in our hearts to the Lord’s word, he invites us to be his guests at the Eucharistic table, to unite ourselves to him – to live with him!
In Him, with Him, - you and I - we can always remain united every time we come to the Eucharist, just as we are in today’s celebration. And thus united in Christ, I will never forget you. And I ask you please, to remember me as well.
In Christ, who speaks to each of us in our hearts.