[Salvation]

Learning from Martha and Mary

Pastor’s Column

16^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 21, 2013

 

          This Sunday’s gospel of Martha and Mary is found only in Luke (Luke 10:38 – 42). Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem where he’s going to offer his life on the cross.  He, and possibly his disciples, have come there to get away from the crowds, to find a place of calm and peace and fellowship with friends that Jesus feels comfortable with. But there’s a problem – Martha is busy serving food – in fact the scripture says she is overwhelmed – and finds herself getting angry with her sister, Mary, who is sitting at the feet of Jesus and is not helping her at all. Who can blame Martha for this if so many mouths suddenly showed up at the door? But Jesus seems to indicate that he appreciated what Mary was doing more than Martha. What can we learn from this?

          First of all, does Jesus feel at home within you? Is he a welcome guest in all circumstances? Ideally, within us there will exist a balance between a healthy, listening prayer life and a commitment to putting the Lord’s words into action. Martha’s heart is in the right place; she’s busy serving, and this is what the church does. Mary is busy listening and that’s what Jesus needed at that time. Martha was not in tune with what Jesus wanted because she could not see past her need to prepare an elaborate meal.

          Without prayer, we may find that, like Martha, we are busy about many things and feeling we are doing God’s work and his will, but are, in fact, moving fast, but in the wrong direction! It is like a person who is making excellent time on the freeway but finds in the end he is traveling in the wrong direction! Martha is doing an act of kindness and this is a good thing; but she insists that it be her way of serving, and is not open to what Christ needs at this moment. Mary, on the other hand, was in tune with what Jesus needed because she was listening. She literally sits at his feet, which is the posture of attentiveness and of focusing her whole attention on Christ.

          Remember that Jesus said a couple of weeks ago that he “has nowhere to lay his head”. Well, in a sense, this is still true today in that Christ has no home on earth except in the hearts of people who love him. Jesus still looks for friendly homes where he can be at ease, where he is listened to and served in a way that he desires. There are certainly any number of people that don’t love Jesus very much in this world, and, in fact, do everything they can to throw him out of their house. We Christians should be doing all we can to make him welcome in our own homes.

          Finally, we are all called to have both Martha and Mary within us. At Mass, we see this balance in action: in the Eucharist, like Martha, we share a meal and sacrifice with Christ (which he himself prepares for us), and in the readings we hear Jesus speak to us and we listen attentively like Mary did.

                                                                                      Father Gary

[Salvation]

Sunday Scripture Study

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle C

July 21, 2013

Click here for USCCB readings

Opening Prayer  

First Reading: Genesis 18:1-10a

Psalm: 15:2-5

Second Reading: Colossians 1:24-28

Gospel Reading: Luke 10:38-42

• In this Sunday’s gospel reading, Jesus pauses on his journey to Jerusalem to accept the hospitality of his friends, Martha, Mary and Lazarus of Bethany.

• Bethany was a small village about 2 miles southeast of Jerusalem on the eastern slope of Mt. Olivet (John 11:18). Jesus once attended a banquet there at the house of Simon the Leper (Luke 7) and it was near the spot where Jesus would ascend to heaven (Luke 24:50-51). It was also the place where Jesus would raise Lazarus from the dead (John 11), a miracle which would solidify opposition to him among his opponents in Jerusalem.

• Martha (whose name means “Lady”) prompts Jesus to ask her sister Mary to help with the serving. Mary, who would later anoint Jesus’ head and wash his feet with her tears and hair out of repentance (Mark 14:3; John 11:2, 12:3), sits at his feet like a disciple (John 8:35; Acts 22:3). Martha feels that Mary has her priorities in the wrong order. Jesus, however, informs her of what is really most important.

 

QUESTIONS:

• In the First Reading, Abraham does everything in his power to extend hospitality to the three strangers (latter to be revealed as angels—possibly a theophany, i.e. a manifestation of the Holy Trinity. See Hebrews 13:1-2). In the Second Reading, Paul emphasizes that self-sacrifice is a participation in the saving work of God. What do these two readings each tell us about the attitude of service we should have toward God and man?

• In the Gospel, how do the two sisters differ? Granted that Martha is doing something important, how can Jesus say that Mary’s choice is better? What about Jesus’ call to servant-hood (Matthew 20:25-28; John 13:12-17)? What does Jesus mean when he tells Martha that “one thing is needful”? What is Jesus’ point?

• What attitude do you think prompts Martha to ask Jesus to correct her sister? What is the difference between how a request was made by Mary, Jesus’ Mother (see John 4:1ff), and by Martha? What is the result of each? What can we learn of how we are to pray from this?

• In what area of your life to you need to be more of a servant? A listener to the Lord? If Jesus dropped in on you, what would he point out that distracts you from the most important things in life, like spending time with him?

Closing Prayer

Catechism of the Catholic Church:  §§ 2443-2449, 2709-2719 Do not worry over things that generate preoccupation, and anxiety. One thing only is necessary: to lift up your spirit and love God. –St. Padre Pio