Here is today’s Gospel, from Luke: ‘Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.”’

St Augustine wrote: ‘You see then, dearly Beloved, and, as I suppose, you understand already, that in these two women, who were both well pleasing to the Lord, both objects of His love, both disciples; ye see, I say, … that in these two women the two lives are figured, the life present, and the life to come, the life of labour, and the life of quiet, the life of sorrow, and the life of blessedness, the life temporal, and the life eternal. These are the two lives: do ye think of them more fully. … There were then in that house these two lives, and Himself, the Fountain of life. In Martha was the image of things present, in Mary of things to come. … As long as we are here, how much of it is there that we have? For in some measure are we employed in it now, and you too when removed from business, and laying aside domestic cares, you meet together, stand, listen. In so far as you do this, you are like Mary’.

As we enter into contemplative prayer, the prayer of Mary who sat at the feet of the Lord, we are indeed tasting of the life which is to come. May we have the grace to take hold of that which will give us life into eternity – and may God bless you this day and in all that you undertake for Him.