What did Jesus mean when he said, “There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part.” What is the one thing needed? The traditional explanation is that the “better part” is prayer. Martha stands for work and Mary stands for prayer and prayer is better. However, does that explanation square with the fact that Jesus sent the disciples out to mission, not into a retreat house? Perhaps a better explanation can be found entering the scene. If Mary had helped in the kitchen Jesus would have been sitting all alone. The better part, then, could be considered as being attentive to the moment. What is God asking of me at this time, even if it gets me out of my comfort zone.