Jonah 3:1-10 / Luke 10:38-42
Attention and distraction are opposites and contrary to each other.
But the difference between them is more than just an idea of being opposite and contrary to each other.
In the 1st reading, the difference could been seen in Jonah's attitude and its consequences.
Initially, when God called Jonah to go to Nineveh, he decided to run away from the Lord. He gave in to his distractions, whatever those distractions may be.
The consequences was that he endangered the sailors' lives and caused distress wherever he went and to whoever he met.
But when he finally decided to pay attention to God's call, he went to Ninevah, and he went into the city and there, after a day's journey he preached in these straightforward words: Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.
The effect of his words brought about an amazing act of immediate repentance from cattle to king.
In the gospel, Jesus told Martha not to worry and fret over so many things, because she was distracted with all the serving.
Jesus is also telling us not to be distracted and fret and worry over so many unnecessary things.
We need to keep focused on the Lord and to pay attention to what He is showing us and to reflect and meditate on it in prayer. That will keep us from the distractions of sin and living an unfocused life.