sat down at the Lord’s feet to listen to his words. Martha, meanwhile, was busy with all the
serving, and finally she said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all
the work? Tell her to help me!”
But the Lord answered, “Martha, Martha, you worry and are troubled about many things,
whereas only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken
away from her.”
Reflect
Once again, our readings offer a fascinating juxtaposition. The people of Israel embrace the
commandments given to Moses by God. Their response to the commandments is a promise
to hear and to obey. In the Gospel, Martha and Mary exemplify these two tasks. Mary sits at
Jesus’ feet (the traditional place of a student) taking care to hear his words. Martha, on the
other hand, dedicates herself to service, caring for her guests and making sure that they have
everything that they need.
All too often, people try to put Martha and Mary in opposition to each other, making one better
than the other. But the point of this story is not competition. We need both to listen and to obey.
One without the other will not help us to grow in holiness. If we listen without allowing what we
hear to affect our lives, we are rightly charged with paying lip service to God’s commandments.
If we act without grounding in the Lord’s teaching, how will we know what to do? Let us imitate
Mary and Martha, telling God that we will hear and obey.
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