Can laziness be a virtue?

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus visits the home of Martha and Mary. Like a diligent host, Martha busies herself with the many tasks that hospitality requires, while Mary sits at Jesus's feet, fully absorbed in His words. Overwhelmed and feeling abandoned in her work, Martha blurts out, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving by myself? Tell her to help me" (Luke 10:40).

- FR. ROLANDO Y. DELA ROSA, O.P.

Jesus responds with what feels like a gentle rebuke: "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken from her" (Luke 10:41-42).

Martha sees Mary as lazy and doing nothing. But Jesus flips that perception. He sees Mary's alleged "laziness" as a deliberate decision to pause from all work so she can be fully present to Jesus who is too precious for her to ignore. In contrast, Martha's anxiety, while rooted in her sincere desire to serve, blinds her to the wonder and grace unfolding in her own home.

Jesus is not dismissing the value of work. Rather, He warns against allowing it to consume us to the point that we lose the ability to reflect, to notice, and to be present to what or who truly matters in our life.