July 20 – 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The public life of Our Lord Jesus Christ was intense. He travelled from village to village, teaching the Good News and announcing that the Kingdom of God was at hand. Crowds flocked to Him to be cured of their illnesses and those possessed by the devil were freed from his clutches.
And, let us not have any illusions, all this labour tired Him. Someone could say: “But isn’t Jesus God? God does not get tired!” Yes, He is God, but He is also Man, who took on our nature with its weaknesses. As God, He had infinite power and suffered nothing; as man, He was “one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15). Therefore, He needed to rest.
And where could He find this much-needed repose? Nowhere better than in the company of true friends: “Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed Him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at His feet listening to Him speak” (Lk 10:38-39).
The Master goes to Bethany to be with the siblings Lazarus, Martha and Mary, who receive Him with respect and gratitude.
The hostess, putting her feminine skills into action, concerns herself with all the details: organizing the house in the best possible way, using the noblest linens and tableware she has and, of course, preparing a banquet that reflects all her love, affection and warm consideration for the One she considers to be the awaited Messiah.
Mary, for her part, remains recollected at Jesus’ feet and, rapt in awe, listens to the words of the Incarnate Word of God.
The Gospel continues: “[Martha] came to Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.’ The Lord said to her in reply, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her’” (Lk 10:40-42).
What did Jesus wish to teach Martha… and us? “Our Lord does not then forbid hospitality, but the troubling about many things, that is to say, hurry and anxiety. […] For hospitality is virtuous as long as it keeps us to necessary things. But when it begins to hinder us from attending to what is of more importance, then it is plain that the hearing of the divine word is the more honourable.”1
And St. Augustine adds: “Our Lord then does not blame the actions, but distinguishes between the duties. For it follows: Mary has chosen the better part. Yours is not bad, but hers better. Why better? Because it shall not be taken away from her.”2
At all times we must serve the Lord without leaving the love and contemplation of God, with a view to the eternal that does not pass away.
We end this reflection with a warning from St. Ambrose: “May you then like Mary be influenced by the desire of wisdom. For this is the greater, the more perfect work. Nor let the care of ministering to others turn your mind from the knowledge of the heavenly Word, nor reprove or think indolent those whom you see seeking after wisdom,”3 that is, contemplation.
May the Lord’s holy friends obtain for us this precious grace from Him. ◊
Notes
1 THEOPHYLACT, apud ST. THOMAS AQUINAS. Catena Aurea. In Lucam, c.X, v.38-42.
2 ST. AUGUSTINE, apud ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, op. cit.
3 ST. AMBROSE, apud ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, op. cit.
