Last week’s gospel, featuring the parable of the Good Samaritan, ends with the mandate from Jesus, “Then go and do the same.” Today’s gospel reading sends us a very different message. We find Martha busy with her household tasks. She is “going and doing,” busily preparing a meal. Meanwhile, her sister, Mary, sits down to listen to Jesus. After complaining that she ought to be helping her in the kitchen, Martha is chided for “going and doing” too much. “Martha, Martha,” Jesus replies, “you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
Martha and Mary provide a contrast in priorities. Martha’s preoccupation with putting a meal together can be compared to those who busy themselves following the letter of the law, serving others. Many feel good about themselves and their relationship with God because they are busily doing what is expected of them.
That attitude was certainly common among the Pharisees in ancient Israel and is still common among many Christians today. They see themselves as devoutly religious because they carefully observe the many commandments of the Church.
Jesus doesn’t condemn Martha for what she is doing. He is lamenting that, unlike her sister, she isn’t being too attentive to her guest. On the other hand, Mary puts aside whatever she was doing so that she can seat herself by Jesus and listen to what he has to say.
I read that to sit at the feet of a rabbi implied that you also wanted to be one. A student of the Torah visited his teacher one day and pronounced that in his opinion, he was ready to be ordained a rabbi.
“What are your qualifications?” the rabbi asked. The proud student replied, “I’ve disciplined my body so that I can sleep on the ground, eat the grass of the field and allow myself to be whipped three times a day.”
The teacher then asked, “Do you see that ass over there? It sleeps on the ground, eats the grass of the fields and is whipped no less than three times a day. From what you’ve said, you may qualify to be an ass, but certainly not a rabbi!”
Before we deem ourselves “qualified” to be considered true disciples of Jesus, we had better consider if our lifestyle has allowed God the chance to teach us through prayer what being a disciple is all about.
Mary seizes the opportunity to satisfy her hunger to better know God. When Jesus points out to Martha that her sister has chosen the better part, he is observing that striving to keep the letter of the law should never take precedence over taking time to be in touch with God through prayer. This isn’t an either/or proposition that Jesus is placing before us. We are still expected to serve others, just as the Good Samaritan and Martha did, but we also need to put aside time for God, following the example of Mary.
One doesn’t achieve holiness merely through obedience of the many laws that direct how we as Christians are to live. Holiness is cultivated through the art of praying, which should be the objective of every Christian’s life.
Most of us approach life much like Martha. We are always busy, filling our days with activities, keeping our families fed, clothed, and entertained. Hopefully we also manage to find some time in the midst of all that activity for quiet prayer, which is as vital for our spiritual well being as sleep is for our physical well being.
We gather here for Mass, but that is not the same thing. The Mass is our community prayer. Jesus is the host who invites us to this Eucharistic feast to be fed by him so that when we leave this space, we are empowered to serve him by serving others.
When we leave here, do we make much time to invite Jesus into our lives as our guest? Do we create quiet time just for God the other days of the week? Do we take time out from our busy schedule to share with God what is going on in our lives, giving God a chance to speak to us?
I imagine for many of us, prayer is not an activity we spend much time doing attentively. The Catechism presumes that when it notes, “Many Christians unconsciously regard prayer as an occupation that is incompatible with all the other things they have to do: they ‘don’t have the time.’” But the Catechism also cautions, “Prayer is a vital necessity. If we do not allow the Spirit to lead us, we fall back into the slavery of sin.”
The bottom line is this: life often finds us anxious and worried about many things just as Martha was, so for our well being, we must seek out the better part, that is, make time for personal prayer with Jesus in the midst of our busy lives. Do as Mary did. Entertain the Real Presence with our presence.
That time could be spent examining one’s conscience, reading scripture, meditating, reflecting on the mysteries of the rosary, journaling, doing the liturgy of the hours or striving to better understand our Catholic faith are just a few ways one can pray outside of the Mass. Service to others is expected of us but no act of love speaks more of the desire to welcome Jesus into our lives and hearts than time spent in prayer listening to him, just as Mary did. Only then will the mystery of Christ come fully alive for us. The spiritual life is not easy but it is simpler than you might think.