There is a Martha and Mary within each one of us.

Today’s readings tell us two very different meal stories.

Father Abraham stars in the first Scripture reading as the host who spares absolutely nothing in welcoming strangers to his home.

Abraham looking up saw three men standing nearby.  When he saw them, he ran from the entrance to greet them, to welcome them, to provide extravagant hospitality and a warm meal for them.

Abraham’s story reminds us that we never know in what guise God will show up.  Luckily he did not live in a gated community.  Abraham’s servants were tasked with hospitality rather than security.

The first reading is about strangers being entertained and the people didn’t know that the Lord was visiting them.  When we open our heart and home to the stranger and the neighbor we are receiving God into our lives.

The Indian poet Tagore writes – “and when you left I saw God’s footprints on the floor.

As with Abraham in the first reading, God may be coming to us as the one in need.  If our hearts are not generous and welcoming, how often have we turned God away and in turn failed to experience the generosity He wants to bestow on us.

Abraham shows us that the welcome we offer to the stranger is the welcome we offer to God.  Christ is received in every guest.

Abraham and Sarah’s hospitality to the three mysterious visitors leads to the revelation that they will have a son.

In the Gospel account, Jesus, going along a road, came to a village and was welcomed into a house.  There one sister, having to get the meal, complained that the other sister just sat and listened to Jesus; and Jesus says that this second sister, named Mary, had chosen the better part, and it is not to be taken from her.

The traditional interpretation of this passage points to the distinction between an active, service spirituality and the more prayerful, listening spirituality.  In our discipleship of the Lord Jesus, there is a place for service, and there is a place for prayerfulness.  We spend a lifetime seeking the balance between the two ways of discipleship.

I invite your prayer for that balance in the spiritual life.

Lord, we pray for parents today.  Let them not fall into the trap of worrying and fretting about doing many things for their children, then complaining no one is helping them.  Remind them that the only essential thing is to sit down at the feet of their children and listen to them.

Another prayer:

Lord, so often we keep busy, complaining about all we have to do, and that others are leaving us to do all the work by ourselves.  We even ask you to tell them to help us.  We thank you for that day when you sent someone to speak to us

-          A homily in Church.

-          One of our children told us we were insincere.

-          A sin we committed.

We were hurt and angry but now we realize that it was Jesus speaking to us as he spoke to Martha, showing us that we were really running away from the one thing we needed more than any other, to spend more time in prayer, to sit at your feet and listen as you show us the truth about ourselves.

Lord, there is a Martha and Mary within each of us.

                -a part of ourselves which is busy and active,

                -another part which sits at your feet and listens trustingly to your word.

We need our active side to accomplish your will, but the listening is the best part, and we must not allow it to be taken from us.

Martha’s major error was to let the menu overshadow the encounter with Jesus.     Martha let agitation about the kitchen cancel out the nourishment that comes from being in Jesus’ presence.  We need the nourishment that comes from the kitchen table; we also need the spiritual nourishment that comes from the Lord Himself.  Isn’t it true, that hospitality’s most important dimension is listening attentively to your guests.

As we reflect on our spiritual side, remember the truth that we can do many holy things without ever becoming holy.  There may be much action in our lives, very worthwhile action, but we need first to listen to the Lord in prayer before we can be people of action.  Is our active life leading us to deepen our encounter, our relationship with the Lord Jesus?

Jesus is not telling Martha that her work is not important, nor is he commending Mary for doing nothing.  He is simply reminding his followers that if we want to serve Him, we must first listen to Him.  We need to be people of prayer before we are people of action.

Martha and Mary serve together as patronesses and partners in a living Church. Thanks be to God there is both a Martha and a Mary to the spiritual dynamic of St. Joseph’s Church.  Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity devote an hour to the adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament before going to serve Jesus in the suffering people they find in the streets.   Going and doing and sitting and listening are complimentary aspects of authentic discipleship.  But please God, may we never lose sight of the ways we encounter the Lord in our prayer.