16th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Cycle C)

July 18, 2010

by Rev. Deacon Lawrence A. St. Onge

Listening to today’s gospel, it is easy to feel sorry for Martha who was left with all the work to do; carrying out all the duties of good hospitality, while her sister, Mary, did nothing but sit at Jesus’ feet. Some may question why Martha was being criticized, while Mary, appearing to be somewhat lazy and even selfish, was praised by Jesus? It seemed that Martha was doing just what Abraham and Sarah did for their guests in today’s first reading. They received a blessing as their reward for what they did, and yet Jesus seems to criticize Martha. However, the difference is that when Abraham is visited, he acts as a servant to his guests; not joining them in the meal, but rather, standing nearby, being ready to see to their needs. It is precisely in this regard, that Mary, rather than Martha, follows the example of Abraham.

What are Jesus’ needs—to be waited on, to be served? Scripture tells us that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve — what we call “diakonia” – meaning service. Part of Jesus’ mission was to make disciples, who would learn from him and then spread his gospel among all nations. In sitting at the Lord’s feet, Mary is in fact serving the Lord, because she is doing precisely what he wants, which is listening to his message and letting it sink into her heart. She is assuming — both literally and figuratively — the position of a disciple. Martha on the other hand is too busy and too preoccupied with her own desire to be the perfect hostess, which is her top priority.

Today’s gospel is sort of a commentary on last week’s gospel story about the Good Samaritan. In it, the priest and the Levite, like Martha, were too busy with the priorities in their own lives to see what was really important and what was being asked of them. Like the Good Samaritan, who puts aside his own plans in order to help the injured man, Mary is able to see what is most important and essential, and what the moment demands. In sitting at the Jesus’ feet, she welcomed him and was obedient to his needs. That is, she listened to what he had to say to her. Martha on the other hand never heard him, because she was so wrapped up in what she thought was important, that she missed the experience of sitting at the Lord’s feet and of being a disciple.

In a very real sense, Martha and Mary represent two different ways of expressing religion. Martha is representative of those who diligently work at religion by visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, raising money for the benefit of the poor or teaching CCD classes, among other things. They are the activists, who work constantly. It seems that one task is hardly done before they are going on to the next. They are the doers of good works.

Mary, on the other hand represents those whose expression of religion is more largely a matter of meditation and contemplation. They spend most of their time in prayer and study in order to deepen and purify their spiritual life. Success for them comes when they are able to face the future without fear and have the ability to forgive others with no trace of bitterness in their hearts.

When Jesus enters the home of Martha and Mary, he, in fact, actually becomes the host to all present. Jesus offers not only hospitality, within which we can take comfort and find rest, but also the necessary food of his Word and his teaching for our nourishment and strength, by which we are able to continue our journey of discipleship.

As disciples, we need to learn from both sisters, and maintain a healthy balance between the service they render, and the prayerful union with Jesus that inspires and stimulates that service. Jesus does not promote one aspect of discipleship over another. What Jesus in effect says is: the “one thing necessary” is the sincere desire to seek the kingdom of God before all else. Mary expressed this desire in her attentiveness to Jesus, and in her awareness that he had much more to offer to her than she could ever offer him. Once we know the blessed satisfaction of being loved and fed by Jesus, our natural response is to translate that blessing into loving service of others. Therefore, the essence of discipleship begins with careful attention to the Word of God, who is Jesus. Any service that bypasses the Word will never have a lasting character to it; listening to Jesus’ word is the lasting good that will never be taken away from the listener.

The lesson to be learned from today’s gospel lies in the relationship between discipleship and diakonia, or rather, that of listening and of service. Mary takes the posture of the disciple, by sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him. Martha, on the other hand, takes on the deacon’s role of service — by waiting on tables. Jesus does not condemn either role, but rather, points out the natural order, which is to listen first, then act. Discipleship and diaconate need each other. It is like putting one foot in front of the other. We just need to know the best foot to put forward; which is listening first; and then action. And it is for that reason Jesus says, “Mary has chosen the better portion.”

In the end, we should not view the characteristics of the two sisters: the contemplative Mary and the active Martha, as being conflicting in nature. In reality, it is better to understand them both as being complimentary aspects of true discipleship. Each sister represents an important aspect of following Jesus, and both are necessary. A life of service without recourse to Jesus and his Word will end up being frustrating and empty; while a life steeped in prayer and in the Word must eventually and necessarily express itself in service to others. For it can never be a situation of either/or but rather, must always be a both/and situation. There cannot be a healthy one without the other. Jesus wants us to be both Martha and Mary. It can take a bit of doing, but it can be done.