Martha and Mary

07-20-2025Weekly ReflectionFr. Albert

In Today's Gospel, we encounter the familiar scene of Jesus visiting the home of Martha and Mary. While Martha is busy with the tasks of serving and preparing for the guest, Mary sits at the feet of Jesus, listening attentively to His words. While Martha complains that Mary is not helping, Jesus gently rebukes her, saying, '' Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her''.

Jesus' words are often understood as highlighting the value of contemplation over mere activity. Martha represents the active life, the busyness of service and responsibility, while Mary embodies the contemplative life, a life centered on listening to the Word of God. Both are important, but Jesus reminds us that contemplative life - the attention to God and His presence - is primary. In the end, service without a relationship with God can become mere busywork, while contemplation without action can lead to a lack of engagement with the world and its needs.

There is the need for both contemplation and action in the Christian life. We are called to be '' not only doers of good works but also contemplators of the good ' '''. our work and service should flow from our relationship with God, which is nourished by prayer and contemplation. Like Martha, we may be tempted to think that the busy work of life is more important but when our lives are not rooted in the love and presence of God even our best works can become hollow.

Jesus in the Gospel reminds us that our service, like that of Martha, must be rooted in our relationship with God, as exemplified by Mary. Without this balance, we risk becoming anxious and troubled about many things, just as Martha was. but when we take time to listen to God, as Mary did, we are grounded in peace that comes from His presence and our work becomes an expression of that peace and love. The readings today invite us to practice hospitality - not just in the physical act of welcoming others but in the spiritual hospitality of making room for God in our hearts. Just as Abraham welcomed the three visitors, we are called to welcome Christ into our homes, into our lives and into our hearts, not with superficial gestures but with a genuine openness that leads to a deep relationship with Him.

We are called to reflect on the balance between service and contemplation. Are we too busy with the tasks of life, like Martha, that we forget to pause and listen to God's word? Are we giving our time to the things that truly matter, or are we simply distracted by the many concerns of the world? Jesus calls us to find the '' one thing is necessary'' a deep and abiding relationship with Him that will guide and inspire all that we do. our works of service should flow from contemplation. Just as Martha's work was meant to serve Jesus, our actions in the world must flow our relationship with God.