Have you wondered what Jesus meant when he said Mary had chosen the better part? ( Luke 10:40 ). We live in a hectic world, and tend to forget there’s more to life than changing its speed. The following story is a practical illustration of what it means, for us, to choose the better part.

Over the phone, Jack’s mother told him, “Mr. Scanlon died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.” Memories flashed through Jack’s mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days. “He’s the one who taught me carpentry,” he told his mother. “I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important. Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral.”

As busy as he was, Jack kept his word. He caught the next flight to his hometown. The funeral was small and uneventful. Mr. Scanlon had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he returned home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see Mr. Scanlon’s old house next door one more time.

The door was open, and the inside of the house was exactly as he remembered it. Every picture, every piece of furniture was in the very same place or so it seemed. Jack stopped suddenly…

“What’s wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked.

“The box is gone,” he said.

“What box?” Mom Asked.

“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was “the thing I value most,’” Jack said.

Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a package in his mailbox. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. “Mr. Harold Scanlon,” it read. Jack ripped open the package, nervously. There, inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside the envelope.

“Upon my death, please forward this to Jack Bennett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life.” A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filled his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold, pocket watch.

Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: “Jack, Thanks for your time! Harold Scanlon.”

“The thing he valued most was…my time.” Jack muttered, tears running down his cheeks.

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days.

“Why?” Janet, his assistant asked.

“I need to spend some time with my son,” he said. “Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!”

Spending time with a friend is not a waste of time. It is what Jesus described as the better part of life. Jack learned that the thing his friend, Harold, valued most was the time he spent with him.

Spend time with your friends! It could be the difference between life and death. Spending time with the sick, with the elderly, with your children is actually life-giving.

—Fr. Hugh Duffy