“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many
things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke10:41-42)
Have you ever experienced a truly sacred moment when you felt a profound sense of awe and belonging? Of being in the presence of God? Perhaps while you were listening to music, reading a poem, enjoying a sunset, looking into the eyes of a newborn, or relating to someone in love? That’s the soft voice of your soul expressing deep satisfaction with its connection to the forces of spirituality.
Unfortunately, many people never experience sacred moments because they live their entire lives without ever realizing that they’re primarily spiritual beings. How sad they miss out on feeling the expanded consciousness and inner peace that comes from spiritual awareness. How sad they face death terrified at the prospect of emptiness and meaninglessness.
Believers know that humans are made up of body and soul. The soul is the reason we exist; it’s the part of our being that connects us to God our Creator; the site of the indwelling presence of God by the Spirit. Though intangible and hidden within the body, the soul is the very essence of who we are. While the body encompasses life’s material aspects, the soul encompasses aspects of the spirit.
What drives the body primarily is having its physical needs met. Obviously, ignoring physical needs is harmful, but so too is ignoring spiritual ones. High levels of anxiety and worry, for example, like poor eating habits, smoking, addiction, lack of exercise or sleep, exact a heavy toll on our wellbeing.
A primary lesson of today’s gospel is that a meaningful life is one of balance, balance between needs of the body and needs of the soul. Martha resented that she was left with all the work of preparing and serving a meal for Jesus, while her sister sat listening to his teaching. But notice how Jesus answered the understandably exasperated Martha who asked him to reproach her sister for not helping? -- “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.”
Most people, particularly women, empathize with Martha. Being a woman today often means juggling career, childrearing, homemaking, family obligations, social life and errands, with physical, spiritual and emotional needs! It’s no different for men, although the tasks may be somewhat different. Multi-tasking has become a way of life. We often feel guilty about doing nothing. Even our children are overscheduled with places to go and things to do. The other day at the health club as I was exercising on a stationery bike, headset on listening to one of my favorite CD’s, my reverie was interrupted by the guy on the bike next to mine talking on a cell phone. The same thing happens at restaurants. Recently Gloria and I were at a restaurant and at the adjoining table was a man and woman, each of them talking into a cell phone (and not to each other!) Any wonder why stress has a field day? Who wouldn’t become “anxious and worried about many things” as people, young and old of both sexes, are pulled constantly in so many different directions by competing demands on their time?
The story of Martha and Mary raises a warning flag about losing perspective. It cautions us not to get so involved in what we’re doing that we forget why we’re doing it. Not to miss the forest, metaphorically speaking, because we’re too focused on the trees. This is the kind of mistake that Martha makes. She gets so wrapped up in cooking a meal for Jesus that she loses sight of why he’s come in the first place. He didn’t come for an elaborate meal; he came to spend time with friends before his passion and death.
Martha is the patron saint of “workaholics.” Do you know how to tell if someone’s a workaholic? Prominently displayed at their work site is a sign that reads; “Thank God it’s Monday!” Too much work, even in ministry, isn’t good for body or soul. That’s because if you’re constantly doing, you’re probably ignoring the needs of your body as well as needs of your soul.
Spiritual gurus of most religious traditions agrees that to experience well being, which is God’s desire for all of us, body and soul must co-exist in harmony. It’s the soul that energizes and guides the body toward ethical behavior. Body and soul in harmony enable us to fulfill our mission – to lead meaningful, productive, and virtuous lives by shaping our world according to God’s plan for creation. That’s what kingdom building is all about.
Jesus himself, our model for how to live according to God’s plan, often took time to be alone for prayer and meditation; to rest, and to renew his spirit. Isn’t obvious that we all need to do the same thing? If we’re always busy doing, we won’t have the energy to love and serve, or to do much of anything else. The quality of what we’re doing will surely suffer and burn out or worse will be the likely result. And like Martha who put her chores ahead of her guest, we too will probably fall into the trap of paying more attention to our projects than our relationships. I don’t know of a single person facing death who ever regretted not spending more time at the office. Do you?
How do you insure that your soul functions properly? By staying connected to your divine source. The late Jewish theologian, Abraham Joshua Heschel, put it this way: “As a tree torn from the soil, as a river separated from its source, the human soul wanes when detached from what is greater than itself.” How do you stay connected to your divine source? Here a few more examples; reading scripture or other inspirational material; attending mass regularly; praying or meditating; gardening; being creative; helping others in need; lying on your back outdoors watching cloud formations; walking barefoot on soft grass or along a sandy beach. . . and the list goes on and on.
Mary chose the better part because she listened to the voice within, urging her to be with Jesus as he paused on his journey toward Jerusalem and the cross. She understood that feeding the soul is just as important as feeding the body and that sitting at the feet of the master, sensing perhaps for the last time, was an opportunity not to be missed. Martha’s understanding of hospitality was limited to being domestic; Mary, on the other hand, knew that to receive the Lord in loving attentiveness is a higher form of welcome.
It’s important to note that Jesus certainly doesn’t deny the value of Martha’s work. Hospitality in first century Judea was considered an important virtue. Recall, after all, that those who traveled from place to place spreading the gospel relied upon others for their physical needs. Hospitality is a hallmark of just about every culture throughout recorded history, including ancient Israel’s, as portrayed in today’s reading from Genesis.
Jesus isn’t saying to Martha that there’s nothing to do or to worry about. No, what he’s saying, in effect, is, Martha, your priorities are out of kilter. Mary knows that she has something to learn from me, but you’re letting busyness stand in the way of your learning too. In this simple interchange Jesus is teaching an important lesson of discipleship – hearing and reflecting on the Word is essential for doing the Word.
Service is important, of course. It’s the centerpiece of Jesus’ mission. And he knows, as we all do, that society would fall apart without the activity and anxiety of the Marthas of the world. This parish like every other couldn’t function without all of us taking turns at being Martha-like. But as with anything else, it’s a matter of perspective, of priority, and Jesus is clear about what comes first. First for him is taking time to tend to our spirits, the well-spring from which love and service flow. When Jesus speaks in the silence of our hearts, he reminds us that we also need the peace and grace he has to offer. We won’t hear him, however, if we’re too preoccupied to listen.
A beloved rabbi, when he was yet a young child, was playing with a group of children who were climbing a ladder. All his friends were afraid to climb to the top, but he had no fear. Later, his grandfather asked him, “Why were you not afraid to climb and the others were?” “Because as they climbed, they kept looking down,” he replied. “They saw how high they were, and were afraid. As I climbed, I kept looking up. I saw how low I was, and it motivated me to climb higher.”
Believers, you see, know where to look.
Anthony J. Sciolino
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 18, 2004 (Cycle C)
Genesis 18:1-10
Colossians 1:24-28
Luke 10:38-42.