|
Martha and Mary teach us many things about ourselves and about our response to the society in which we live. This story is rich and resonates with me on many levels. Martha and Mary have literally taught me about my relationship with the Lord, the importance of hospitality, and our need to examine our spirituality. You see, my grandmothers’ names are Martha and Mary. So, every time I meet these women in the biblical stories, I am reminded about the similarities and differences of my two grandmothers. These stories are on my mind and heart as I re-kindle my childhood memories. Maybe you have people in your life that can be represented by these two women. Let’s examine the scripture.
First, we need to realize that the Word of God is always calling us to have a relationship with Jesus. This story allows us to peer into the Lord’s human nature. Jesus had a deep desire for friendship. Mary and Martha (and their brother Lazarus) were some of Jesus’ closest friends. John 11:5 tells us “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” This family believed Jesus was the Messiah and saw Him bring their brother back to life. Jesus spent some of his last days on earth in their comfortable home. The story of Martha and Mary also gives us amazing insight into their personalities and teaches us some important lessons about ourselves.
Let’s examine our spirituality. Are we in balance? It has been my personal experience, that I need to be mindful of spending time alone with the Lord. It is not my natural response to “let things go” and “put work on the back burner” so I can go off and pray. What about you? Are you always busy doing things? Do you have a list that is never ending? Does this insatiable desire to accomplish stuff separate you from God like it often does for me? Balance is what I see when I look at these sisters - if the two personalities could be put in a blender and poured out as one. I wonder, do you see this in yourself or in your own families? When I say the rosary, it takes me 3 decades to settle down and let go of the world’s issues. Kind of like a trip to the Adirondacks, It takes me three days to feel the pressure come off my shoulders.
Let’s think about Hospitality. As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But all the preparations that had to be made distracted Martha. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha’, the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’” Luke 10:38-42. What jumps out at you from this conversation? One thing is WOW, that takes a lot of nerve to get snappy with the Messiah when you’re having a tiff with your sister!
But I get it, Martha is doing all the work and her sister is sitting there, “taking it easy”. It doesn’t seem fair. Think about having guests in your home … hospitality is more than preparing food and cleaning. It is also about spending time with others. Balance needs to be addressed.
Sisters and Brothers, I ask you to consider examining your lives for balance in your spirituality, hospitality and relationship with the Lord. Consider increasing your prayer time, going on a retreat, attending an additional Mass. Grow in hospitality by giving of your time, talent and treasure. I pray you feel peace in achieving balance and a closer relationship with God. Thank you, Martha and Mary, I love you both.
Peace and Blessings,
Deacon Lon
| 
