Mary and Martha

Readings for Sunday July 18th, 2010 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time


This Sunday's Gospel reading is from the Gospel of St. Luke and it brings to us a lesson on discipleship. Jesus tells us do not be anxious or worried about to many things, He says, "There is need of only one thing" and that is to listen to what Jesus has to say and it will never be taken away from you.
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who almost immediately after Jesus' arrival sat at His feet and listened to his word.
But Martha who was overwhelmed with all the work that needed to be done, came to Jesus and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her that she has to help me.
And Jesus answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things, but only one thing is needed and Mary has chosen that good thing, which will not be taken away from her.
I am sure that many of us can relate our own life experience to this story. Martha is the perfect host, can you imagine her now in her kitchen stirring a pot with a big wooden spoon, her hands and face white from the flour used to bake bread. Can you see her moving quickly from pot to pot—the potatoes are boiling over, the meat dish is overdone in the oven, the table still needs to be set and to make matters worse, Mary has invited more guests for dinner. So when Martha walks out into the front room looking for some help and support from her sister, what is Mary doing? Well, to Martha she isn't doing much. Mary is sitting on the floor engaged in conversation with the guests.
We would like to think that they are catching up on important events in their lives, sharing stories, possibly even some local gossip. In short, they are talking about the essential matters in life. Issues dealing with faith, hope and love.
Now can you picture the situation coming to a head as Martha goes barging into the front room wondering why in the world her sister isn't helping her in the kitchen. But what is interesting here, is that Martha does not direct her remarks to Mary, but to Jesus. In this Gospel story it's appears that Martha's anger is not directed towards her sister Mary, but rather she scolds Jesus. "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her that she help me." By her words, she implies that all this extra work she must do is somehow his fault and in a way she tells him off by saying, "Don't you care that I am stuck in the kitchen doing everything by myself? Tell Mary to help."
Now Jesus on many occasions has had to deal with issues involving manipulation, quickly realizes that Martha is trying to get him to take sides. And how does he reply?
Martha, Martha, you are too busy with all your cooking and all your preparations—you have too many things on your plate, but Mary has chosen to sit and talk with me. Long after this meal is over, she will carry the memories of this time we spent together.
We don't know whether Martha suddenly realized that Jesus was right, took off her apron and entered into the conversation; or whether she took on a major martyr attitude and slunk back into the kitchen being resentful and feeling sorry for herself.
What an important instruction this story is. How many of us are like Martha? Running around trying to keep the house clean, all the party preparations must be perfect, making sure everyone has there favorite foods?
How quickly do we become angry or jealous of those who seem to have found the time to relax, to visit, to talk with one another about their shared hopes, shared dreams and shared visions for what this troubled world might be. How many of us become resentful and feel like we are "stuck" doing all the things no one else will do?
It is in this spirit that I write this email. My wish for all of us is that we would all try to behave more like Mary and a little less like Martha. How I wish we could spend more time listening to each other, really listening and hearing the stories of joy, of pain, and of hope. All too soon even the most elegant meal is just leftovers. But the time we spend with friends and loved ones, our families, and our friends—this time is precious. This is the good thing that cannot be taken away.
What things are the most important to you?
My hope for all of you is that we will individually and as a group reflect on these important questions and rather than get all caught up in the work that needs to be done let us be concerned with the important issues in our lives—the important things like family, friends, service and that cannot be taken away from us.
Reading 1
Genesis 18:1-10a

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre, as he sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot. Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them; and bowing to the ground, he said: "Sir, if I may ask you this favor, please do not go on past your servant. Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet, and then rest yourselves under the tree. Now that you have come this close to your servant, let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves; and afterward you may go on your way." The men replied, "Very well, do as you have said."
Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah, "Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls." He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it.
Then Abraham got some curds and milk, as well as the steer that had been prepared, and set these before the three men; and he waited on them under the tree while they ate.
They asked Abraham, "Where is your wife Sarah?" He replied, "There in the tent." One of them said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son."

Reading II
Colossians 1:24-28

Brothers and sisters:
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister in accordance with God's stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God, the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past. But now it has been manifested to his holy ones, to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope for glory. It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

Gospel
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."


IHN
tommyk
Isaiah 41;10
"Compassion is your Pain in my Heart"