“Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? I remember understanding this verse as though God is like a genie in a bottle and prayer is like a delivery service. But when I encountered true hardship, this interpretation was tested. I was seeking, but I couldn’t find what I wanted. My request seemed to go unanswered. I was asking, but my hands were empty. I couldn’t reconcile this. Did this mean God wasn’t telling me the truth? Trusting that couldn’t be the case, I pressed in a little harder.

Are you a Martha or a Mary? How many times have we been presented with that question when we hear today’s Gospel reading? At first ask, similar to many people, I would answer that I’m easily a Martha. I’m a perfectionist in many areas of my life, especially when it comes to my work or when I host dinner for friends and family. In those moments, I put a lot of pressure on myself to be the best I can be, to do the job well, and demonstrate the utmost hospitality. But as with Martha, too much focus on being “perfect” can cause worry and anxiety. But this year, hearing the story again, I realized something: There are times when I’m able to put those worries and anxieties aside and sit at the feet of Jesus just like Mary did, and I want to make that happen more often.

Do you ever feel as though the concept of God’s plan for your life feels too distant and abstract to perceive? If you raised your hand, just know I’m raising mine, too. The life of a Christian striving for virtue and closeness with our creator is not always simple! But Moses’ words to the Israelites in today’s first reading pierce my heart, even centuries after he spoke them: “For this command that I enjoin on you today is not too mysterious and remote for you.” Moses is talking to the Israelites about God's instructions that will lead them to the Promised Land, but it’s a relevant reminder for us, too.

Our calling as disciples of Christ is to evangelize. To be honest, it’s something many of us aren’t entirely comfortable with. Anyone who has ever felt ill-equipped to share the faith with family or friends should be reassured by today’s Gospel. Jesus’ early followers probably felt unprepared to share the news that the kingdom of God was at hand – and they received their marching orders from Jesus himself! When Jesus sent the seventy-two out to proclaim his coming, he knew they would feel insecure.