Luke 10:38-42
7th August Trinity
Now as they were traveling
along, he entered a certain village; and a woman named Martha received him into
her home. And she had a sister called Mary who was listening to the Lord’s
word, seated at his feet.
Martha meanwhile was distracted with all her
preparations. So she got up and said, “Lord do you not care that my sister has
left me here to serve alone? Tell her to help me.”
But the Lord answered and said to her, Martha,
Martha you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things
are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall
not be taken away from her.
or, [“Martha, Martha, you are worrying and making
noise about many things, when only one thing is needed. Mary chose the better
half, and it won’t be taken away from her.” Gaus]
7th August Trinity
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Luke 10:38
– 42
In human interactions, the quality of how one thinks, of
what one feels, the quality of our intentions is decisive. It’s not so much the
what, as the how.
Martha and Mary, along with their brother Lazarus, are
intimate friends of Jesus. He visits them often. Hospitality of course dictates
that they offer their guest a meal. When a guest arrives, possibly unexpected, work
ensues; water drawn for washing, pouring drinks, possibly a quick trip out the
village market, preparing and cooking food. Martha is the part of the human
soul that recognizes and tends the earthly needs.
Mary, on the other hand, is the part of the soul that
recognizes that it is equally important to entertain the Guest with one’s listening
ear and devoted attention. Especially considering who this Guest is. When
Martha complains that all the earthly work seems to fall to her, Christ says,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and disturbed about many things, when only a
few things are necessary, really only one.” Luke
10: 41,42
For Christ recognizes in Martha the very human experience
that work can multiply itself endlessly, especially when one’s own ego is involved,
with, say, making a good impression. Only a few things are truly necessary, He
says, really only one. And that single thing is one’s own cohesive, integrated
presence, a kind of calm Zen attentiveness to being where one is. Martha was
scattered. Mary chose to gather herself together at the Lord’s feet.
Christ goes on to say that Mary chose the better part, and
that it won’t be taken away from her. The better part. For our lives are
indeed currently divided into an active outer part that works in the world, and
an inner contemplative one. By saying that the contemplative side is the better
part of life, Christ is underscoring the necessity that each human soul has of
gathering itself together at the Lord’s feet, of listening to His words, of
becoming whole and integrated. The results of such inner contemplative work
cannot be taken away, for they become eternal. Then that calm wholeness of
spirit can begin to also permeate our outer work in the world. That way,
instead of our egotism making us distracted,
envious and cranky, we can bring the radiance of love into our daily life and
work. In the words of the poet, we
…can pour light into a spoon
Then raise it
To nourish
Your beautiful, parched, holy
mouth.[1]
[1]
Hafiz, “Your Beautiful Parched Holy Mouth,” in I Heard God Laughing, Renderings
of Hafiz, by Daniel Ladinsky, p. 115.
