FIRST DUTY
She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. – Luke 10:39
The
first duty of love is to listen. I learned in business that the way to
serve the customer best is to listen first to what they need and what
will give them pleasure. We can always presume, but you can only serve
others best after listening.
I
had always been sure about the “rightness” of taking on out-of-town
projects that pay well, banking on “as long as this will bring food on
the table for the family, it must be right” philosophy. But the time
came when my wife was not happy with whatever big bucks this
away-from-home project promises to cash in. She told me that what makes
her happier is if I spend the entire day with her on her friend’s
special occasion. And she’d be happiest if I could do our nightly ritual
of me putting her to sleep by caressing her hair. Martha wasn’t bad.
It’s just that
Mary
understood the heart of Jesus during this occasion. People who serve
without listening are preoccupied with the activity, not with the person
being loved. Service is the act of love. You can only love after you’ve
listened. You can only serve genuinely after you’ve listened. Friend,
listen to the one you love today. Jon Escoto(faithatworkjon@gmail.com)
9
REFLECTION:
Listen to the people whom you’ve been serving routinely. What are their needs? What makes them happy?
Jesus,
draw me to listen to You more that I may love and serve You more. Also,
help me make time and muster courage to listen to the one I love. Amen.
Blessed John Henry Newman, pray for us.
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