The Clarifying Presence of the Lord

July 1, 2025

I recently read an interesting article about society’s current “epidemic of busyness.” It explained that nearly all people feel a constant need to be busy and a widespread feeling of not being able to keep up with the demands of daily life.

This busyness is often not even productive in helping us reach our goals, and yet many of us elevate the need to be busy over both our mental and physical health.

But perhaps this need to be busy all the time isn’t as new as we think. In one of the Gospel messages this month, Jesus comes to visit two of his dearest friends, Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus. We can assume that Jesus will be having a meal with the sisters, because we hear Martha complaining that she is doing all the work of preparing and serving while Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to him. Jesus kindly reminds Martha that it is Mary who has chosen the better role and that it won’t be taken from her. Mary has chosen to sit with the Lord, to be in his presence, to enjoy the moment, and to give focus to her life.

Nearly all people feel a constant need to be busy and a widespread feeling of not being able to keep up with the demands of daily life.

Certainly, Jesus appreciated all of Martha’s hard work and careful preparations. However, for Jesus, the better choice is to focus on what really counts, what really matters, and what will really make a difference in a person’s life. Being in the presence of the Lord will always clarify for us what truly matters.

Which brings me back to our epidemic of busyness. Too often our lives are cluttered with unfocused activity, running, chasing things that don’t really matter. And for what? When we are focused, when we pray and listen to the Lord, then the quality of our lives is made better. We find ourselves doing that which really makes a difference, that which enhances both our lives and the lives of others. Giving and making time with the Lord gives both direction and value to the activities of our lives.

Being in the presence of the Lord will always clarify for us what truly matters.

I encourage you to take the opportunity to participate in Eucharistic Adoration if you are able. When you do so, you are able to simply be in the presence of Jesus. Like Mary, we are invited to sit in the presence of the Lord and to listen, pray, and better understand what it is he asks of us. If you are not able to attend Adoration, you can still spend time in in the presence of God at home—it will help you clarify what truly matters.

So, this month of July, we will gather around the table of the Lord to celebrate this Eucharist. We gather to listen, to pray, and to be nourished by the presence of Christ. We take this time to focus our lives so that we might be better able to do his work and his will. Like Mary, I hope you will join with our community of faith to be nourished by the presence of Jesus.