Sunday, July 17, 2016

Martha and Mary (2016-07-17)

TITLE: “Moving or Still (Martha & Mary)”

Genesis 18:1-10 a   ● Psalm 15  ● Colossians 1:24-28 ● +Luke  10:38-42

 [__01__]      Several years ago, as we were anticipating a summer vacation – at the Jersey Shore – my siblings and I suggested to my parents that we travel in more than 1 car. 
          Why not take 2 cars instead of 1 car, recalling our cramped condition and the fact that we were older, more full-grown, and now in possession of valid driver’s licenses?
          This was, however, unprecedented in the family history. No record of this on ANCENSTRY-.dot-COM or anywhere else.
          But, it seemed logical given our age. It would also be more convenient, once we arrived at our destination. We would have greater mobility, greater comfort.
          My father’s response was in the negative.  He said something about not wanting to play “cat and mouse with 2 cars going up and down the Garden State Parkway”, in reference to the behavior of animals which we, of course, were.
          Two cars would only cause trouble.
          Since then, in our family, we would remind my father of the dangers of cat and mouse on any road, in any situation in which more than 2 cars were going anywhere for any reason whatsoever.

[__02__]       In the Gospel we have just read, it seems that Martha and Mary are in 2 different vehicles, on 2 different parkways / turnpikes / roads.

 That is, one is apparently moving quickly from place to place. This is Martha. Perhaps, Martha would have supported our petition to add a vehicle to the journey.

The other, Mary, is more still. I imagine Mary would not mind the group traveling in only one car, being very uncomfortable in the back seat where she could barely feel the air conditioning.

At least, this is one version of the stereotype which we we apply to each of them.

I would like to suggest that each of them – Martha and Mary -- can teach us how to be closer to Jesus, our Savior, each day.

Yes, it is true that Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her. However, I think we can learn from both sisters, both Martha and Mary.

[__03__]       In a reflection on this Gospel, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI[1] wrote that this Gospel passage is especially appropriate for our time of summer and holidays.

          This Gospel reminds us that every person you I are called to work, to effort, to occupations and endeavors both in the home and outside the home.

    However, the Gospel also reminds us that we are moving even when we are still and that we need stillness and peace even when we are moving.

    Benedict XVI wrote that Mary teaches us to put God first in our lives. In this regards, we might observe that Mary is not completely stationary – or stuck – or spinning her wheels.

Rather, in her silence, in contemplation, Mary is moved in her heart and in her soul.

And, this is a lesson to us when we have an important decision to make,  or a difficult message to communicate, or a difficult message to take in (receive), we are called to pray. 

From this stillness, this point of being PHYSICALLY stationary, we can be spiritually motivated.

Perhaps, we are moved toward FORGIVENESS or to THANKSGIVING, to GRATITUDE.

This is the lesson of Mary’s attitude and example.
[__04__]    What about Martha?

At times, we are inclined to dismiss Martha as someone with an attention deficit, or some type of spiritual deficit.

Mary is pure gold, an asset. Martha, on the other hand, is overpriced and a liability.   Buy Mary, sell Martha – is this what we would do?

I suggest that Martha displays some – though not all – of the patience and attentiveness of her sister, Mary.   At least, Martha pauses to ask a question of Jesus, amid her busyness. She pauses to ask … at times, I have overlooked this step.  We have all overlooked this step.

This stillness – even for a moment – is important. 

At the upcoming 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and throughout Brazil, we would not only at acrobatics of gymnasts, the speed of sprinters, the grace of divers, but but we would also be impressed by their stillness, their stability, just before the race, just before the jump, just before the backflip.

Martha, it is true, is not completely at rest. However, she is taking that one pause, that one break that we all need to speak to our our Savior, to see what path we are on.

Martha, we might observe, is not too far off course.  And, she seems to display the agility, the intelligence, the desire, to reconnect with Jesus and to hear from where she is. [__fin__]       



[1] Benedict XVI. Angelus (Castel Gandolfo). 18 July 2010.

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