By Deacon Richard Hay
“Be Martha for others…”
OK – we are going to start off with a homily pop quiz. During Fr. Marek’s homily last weekend, he preached to us about a very well-known parable. Do you remember the name of that parable? (Parable of the Good Samaritan).
OK – Do you remember what he changed the name of the parable to when he decided to look at it from a different perspective? (Parable of the Man in the Ditch).
All right, congratulations – you all passed the homily pop quiz. No promises that there won’t be another one next week about today’s homily.
In all seriousness though, I think Fr. Marek was really onto something last week by taking this well-known parable and approaching it from a different angle and I am not just saying that because he is my pastor and also sitting right behind me!
Sometimes it can be really valuable to take what has become ordinary because we have heard it many times from a certain perspective and see if there isn’t a way to learn something new from that the same story.
As is my normal practice when preparing a homily, earlier this week I was reading and praying with one of my commentaries about today’s gospel, which is another very well-known story from the scriptures like last week’s parable, and it provided a perspective I have never honestly thought about and I want to use that as a means for us to take a different look at today’s gospel as well.
Our story today from the gospel of Luke is familiar – Jesus visiting the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus in Bethany as he did multiple times in his travels. His relationship with them is special and he honors that closeness by visiting them regularly as he passes through Bethany, which was just a couple of miles from Jerusalem. We hear of special encounters throughout the gospels which happen when he visits them. These of course include the raising of Lazurus from the dead and the anointing of his feet by Mary.
It is a short gospel, but the core of it is this exchange between Martha and Jesus:
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.”
The usual initial reaction is that Mary is correct having chosen to spend this time listening to the Lord at his feet and that Martha is worrying too much about the task of providing hospitality to their guest and is missing out on precious time with the Lord. It almost feels like a “right or wrong” is being determined here between each of their actions.
Another approach we often hear for this gospel is to bring both of their actions together like two-sides of the same coin – two types of worship. Sometimes there is work to be done such as providing hospitality as Martha is in this gospel, or ministry work at our parish and they cannot and should not be neglected. We can’t just let our homes fall into disrepair or ignore visitors. There are times our worship needs to be active and not contemplative.
When you flip that coin over, there should also be time that we spend in contemplation and prayer so that we can draw nearer to Jesus and be nurtured and fed by him. It reminds us that there is a time for both of these things and that sometimes they will clash with each other. In that situation, we should make sure we set aside the time for each of them in our lives. Put it on your calendar if that is what it takes to protect that opportunity for spending time close to Jesus and choosing the better part. Then you can take care of the other stuff later.
We also often hear that Jesus might be rebuking Martha in his response to her plea for getting Mary to help. However, by repeating her name twice, “Martha, Martha” he is addressing her with great affection and with a reminder that she also needs to make sure she takes the opportunity to spend time close with Him through the example of her sister Mary.
However, with that said, her work is also important. Actively worshipping and doing works of mercy are very much part of our faith.
Consider this alternate approach to understanding our gospel today. What if I told you that by focusing on the hospitality she is providing for Jesus as their guest, that Martha is actually giving Mary the gift of time and removing distraction so that she is able to be at the Lord’s feet to listen to him and grow closer to him during this visit.
Without having to worry about providing the hospitality that was very much expected in a Jewish household in those days, Mary is able to give all of her attention in that situation to Jesus.
That perspective means there are times when each of us should be Martha for someone in our lives. It might be our spouse, children, brother or sister, parents, aunts, uncles, or even friends or coworkers. By taking care of things around the house or elsewhere while someone close to us spends time with Jesus either in a quiet room for prayer, coming to Daily Mass, attending adoration, or even just walking outside in nature, it allows them to have that time to contemplate our Lord and as they pray, spending time listening for the voice of God. It is truly a priceless gift to be given.
Of course, there is a reverse side of this coin too and that is when we are gifted this precious time by someone in order to spend time with our Lord, then we need to be thankful for it and consider providing them with the same opportunity.
By the way, this is not a scoreboard, and the intent is not to keep track of how many times we do this for someone and then expect the same number in return. For many of us, there is going to be some variation and fluctuation in the opportunity to do this for others – these are gifts – gifts of the heart – and should be given and received freely without any obligation or expectations. Do know though, that the seeds you sow in actions like these will be returned to you thirty, sixty or a hundredfold as we have heard often in another very familiar parable, the Parable of the Sower.
I encourage each of us to reflect on our lives and the relationships we each have with others and consider the tremendous gift it can be to take on that worry, those obligations and what needs to be done so they have the opportunity to spend precious time with Jesus. It will enrich their lives in so many ways and by giving this gift of time to them, you will also be greatly rewarded.
So, as we leave here, look for these opportunities and act on them for yourself, those you love and to further grow the kingdom of God in this life because both of these callings, to serve and to worship, are important elements in our lives of faith.
