Word to the Wise
Tuesday, October 5, 2021 - Tuesday in the 27th Week in Ordinary Time
[Jonah 3:1-10 and Luke 10:38-42]Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me." The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, 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." [Luke]
This scene from the Gospel According to Luke follows immediately after the story of the Good Samaritan and Jesus' advice, "Go and do likewise!" Now we have THE "Good Samaritan" in Martha and she is being told to sit still and listen, like her sister, Mary!! Hmmmmm.......
This scene has been the subject of all kinds of interpretation over the centuries. Among religious orders, it has sparked an argument over the relative value of contemplative and apostolic forms of religious life. (We Dominicans have come down squarely in the middle with our motto: Contemplare aliis tradere! ["Contemplate and share the fruits of contemplation with others."], which our brother Thomas Aquinas provided.)
However, I think the scene carries a more general meaning that applies to all of us. It should be noted that Martha doesn't address her complaint to Mary, but to Jesus!! How often have we complained to God, saying, "Why did you give so-and-so such-and-such and not me?" We might also note that it is not the work that Martha is doing that Jesus comments about. He speaks to her anxiety and her comparing herself to Mary, who is, after all doing what any disciple needs to do: i.e. sit at the feet of the Lord and listen to his words. In short, the scene is not an "either/or" but a "both/and" story.
We all know Marthas and Marys. Do we know the Martha and Mary inside ourselves? I have met Marys who were as anxious about their spiritual life as I have met Marthas who felt oppressed by their many commitments! In both cases, it is the anxiety that needs to be addressed so that the primary task of balancing both can be tackled! Knowing how this works in ourselves can make us better disciples for those who need help with balancing! AMEN