Word to the Wise
Monday, July 29, 2024 - July 29 - St. Martha
[1 John 4:7-16 and John 11:19-27 or Luke 10:38-42]"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] "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? " [Martha] said to him, "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world." [John]
JULY 29 STS. MARTHA, MARY AND LAZARUS
Not too long ago, this day was given entirely to St. Martha, but recently her sister Mary and her brother Lazarus were added to the day. However, in the alternate gospel scriptures for today, Martha still gets the spotlight and the speaking parts. And in both cases, she scolds Jesus - first, for not making Mary help with hospitality, and second, for not coming sooner to Lazarus to keep him from dying. Her personality was apparently well-enough known in the early Christian preaching to remain consistent in two very different gospel accounts. {Mary and Lazarus get their turns in very different ways.]
Martha almost becomes the patron saint of hospitality and worry-warts! But through it all, she is, in her own way, a very human disciple. She almost makes me want to get up and do something!! Although the account in the Gospel According to Luke has been used to support the superiority of contemplative life, I would suggest that the characters of Mary and Martha serve as a mutual balance. One side helps the other. After all, Mary benefits from all of Martha's activity just as Jesus does!! And Mary serves as a reminder to Martha of the true reason for all her [Martha's] activity. Both women are disciples and have something to teach us, but Martha's personality gains her the spotlight!! AMEN