“She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking.”

As I reflected on today’s gospel passage, I was reminded of Servol, an indigenous non-church organisation in our country. It was founded in the aftermath of the Black Power uprising in the turbulent 1970s.

In the midst of the deprivation and disillusionment that was prevalent, Fr Gerry Pantin and Wes Hall climbed the hill of Laventille on September 8, 1970 in an effort to reach out to the people.

They were personal both in their approach and in their outreach to the people of Laventille. There were no mass meetings, or invitations to gather elsewhere. They met with the people on their own home-ground.

As they moved from street-corner to street-corner, for many weeks and months, they spent their time and their energies listening to individuals and their communities in an effort to respond to the challenges that faced them both.

At times they were viewed with suspicion and they encountered opposition, however, they listened to the criticisms and suggestions and they continued on their mission.

Since then, Servol has become quite established and has grown both locally, regionally and internationally. Its history, philosophy and spirit are founded on one basic principle: listening to people.

 It is the hallmark of their Life Centres where there is interaction with the young people with whom they work.

Fr Gerry, Wes Hall and Servol are like Mary in today’s gospel. They sat down at the feet of the people of Laventille and listened to them speaking.

They used the personal approach; they chose the better part and did not succumb to mass meetings that often are de-personalising. They chose to go one-on-one. They responded to a basic human need to be listened to, especially at a time when people felt alienated. 

St Luke shows us Jesus continuing on the course of his journey (to Jerusalem) and, as He comes to the village He is welcomed into the house of Martha and Mary. We are told that, “Mary sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking.”

Jesus had the opportunity of being listened to. Mary was present to him; she “sat down at his feet”. She was attentive to him. A very simple, not earth-shattering, yet profound truth is revealed about Jesus.

He felt a need, a basic human need to speak. He was given a chance to off-load, to share his thoughts and his feelings. He felt appreciated, important and relieved that he was being heard.

His experience was a personal one. Mary was there for him and provided that listening ear. She gave him the one thing that was necessary.  

Our lifestyles today are hectic, we are always on the move; our schedules are demanding; we have deadlines to meet. There are always meetings and appointments to keep.

Hustling and pace are common-place in our modern world. Somehow we do not find the time to sit down and listen to others - our children, our students, our constituents, our colleagues, and as a result they do not feel important, appreciated and understood.

We have lost the personal touch. We neglect and undervalue the importance of listening to others speaking. We are “distracted,” we “worry” and “fret about so many things” we do not choose “the better part.”

Let us pray:
Father, we thank you for friends and parents, for organisations like Servol, religious communities like Mount St Benedict, parliamentary representatives, community workers, who take the time to sit down and listen to others speaking, telling their stories so that we can respond to their true needs.

We feel so human Lord, appreciated and important, when we are truly listened to. We thank you that they have chosen the better part.

Father, forgive us for being so distracted. We worry and fret about so many things, covering our syllabuses, putting up new buildings, preparing meals, and we fail to listen to our children, our friends, our students, our colleagues, we do not choose the better part.

Father, we ask you to help us to become a listening people, help us to sit down at the feet of others and truly listen to them, so that others may feel understood, appreciated and respected. Help us Lord to choose the better part. Amen.

Annie Gomes-Phillips is a wife and mother of two. The vice principal of Fatima College, she is a parishioner of St Theresa's, Woodbrook.