MARY HAS CHOSEN THE BETTER PART

Luke 10, 34 – 42

Probably we are familiar with these two stories; the one of Abraham welcoming the three men as we heard it in the first reading, and the one of Jesus visiting Mary and Martha. When I hear the story of Abraham the first thought that comes to my mind for a homily theme is hospitality. But while it seems that God rewards Abraham for his hospitality to his three guests Jesus rebukes Martha for busying herself about the tasks of hospitality. You want to ask, “Where is the justice?  Wasn’t Martha just being hospitable like Abraham?”

Abraham in our reading from the Book of Genesis recognizes something in his visitors and in consequence of his hospitality he received God’s promise of family to continue his name. Understanding the two stories together you see that the point of the gospel’s story is not that there is something wrong with being hospitable.  Nor is it that prayer is always preferable to acts of charity. Martha and Mary, in the gospel reading, are for us model of the struggle that goes on in our hearts between busyness and attentiveness, between a loving heart of service and a listening heart that is prepared to wait and ponder.  These readings give us a wonderful opportunity to stop and reflect on the need for balance in our lives. 

We have an invitation here to honor both women really, and to recognize that both their characters can find a place in our own lives. We need to perform, to serve, to clean, to cook, to work.  Much of our satisfaction comes from being good and busy, from having work to do, from having people to serve. The balancing act kicks in when we ask ourselves “Why am I doing this? The important question is why am I so busy? As I mentioned previously the lesson communicated in this short narrative was not taught by one sister or the other but by both. The “scene at Martha’s house is far richer than a contrast between prayer and work. It is about balancing prayer and work; contemplation and action.

Both Mary and Martha are teaching us that our following of Jesus and our service in his name will require frequent spiritual refueling. Service that is not so supported can become cranky and resentful as is illustrated in Martha’s complaint to Jesus. Without the “fuel” of prayer, silence and communion with God, service can become a crushing responsibility, a burden rather than a vocation, an annoyed grumbling, rather than a response to the invitation of God. Prayer without action is empty, and action without prayer is dead.

The important question is to know which one comes first. How much of my time should I devote to being with the Lord, to pray and listen to God’s word, and how much time to do the work of the Lord? Saint Dominic said: “An apostolate or a work that does not start in the sanctuary does not bear fruits.” The point of the story of Jesus with May and Martha is not to invite us to choose between being a Martha or a Mary. The true disciple needs to be both Martha and Mary.

Saint Paul in the second reading speaks of the mystery hidden from all ages who is now revealed to us. This mystery of Christ present among us can only be tasted and known when we take time out to be with him, to empty ourselves of the busyness of life, and to give him our full attention.  Once we allow ourselves to step aside now and then and give our attention fully to our neighbor, our spirit finds rest, energy, new purpose and joy.