Martha and Mary

Today we hear a rather famous and also heavily debated passage from the Gospel. Martha is busy serving at table while her sister Mary is listening attentively to Jesus teaching. Martha complains to Jesus about Mary not helping, and Jesus responds that Mary has chosen the better part and that it would not be taken from her. 

Many commentators and interpreters in the Church’s tradition have used this scene to illustrate the relationship between the active life and the contemplative life, particularly within religious life. They use Jesus’ words, “Mary has chosen the better part,” to try to argue that either contemplation is superior to active service or service is superior to contemplation. 

The problem is that it is a false dichotomy; it is not one or the other, much less one over the other, but both-and. There are times in the Christian life where contemplation/prayer is needed and times where service is needed; but at the end of the day, it is supposed to be that our prayer empowers our service and our service feeds our prayer. Jesus’ words to Martha are meant solely to remind us that prayer must always come first so as to give grace and purpose to our service. But at the end of the day, we are all called to do both.

As we celebrate these great saints and close friends of our Lord, may we follow their example and place our full trust and confidence in Him!