Mary and Martha are sisters! (Tuesday's readings)

Luke 10:38-42

 As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. 39 She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. 40 But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. "Master, don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand." 41 The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. 42 One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it--it's the main course, and won't be taken from her."

Food for thought!

Do you have Marthas in your life? I mean people like the woman of the gospel called Martha? People who are not happy that you wake up everyday and come/go to church or sit down before or after work in some quite place for meditation? People who see your devotion as waste of time? They are normally people  that are too busy for the Lord, too busy for prayer,  too busy for quite moments or anything spiritual. People who interrupt you whenever you try sit down for Jesus.

Or you are the Martha, always pulled away by all you have to do in your life? Like Martha, do you often interrupt someone or some people in their prayers or their meditation or their devotions? Jesus has a word for both Martha and Mary.

Or you are both Mary and Martha? You have a part of you that is like Mary that wants to sit down for prayer and meditation and reflection? And another part of you that is always busy, always dynamic, always in action, always on the move?

Do you sometimes feel a clash in you or a fight within you, whereby whenever you sit for Jesus you feel guilty, as if you are wasting time? Do you sometimes feel guilty when you don't find time for prayer because of your busy schedule at work? Do you sometimes feel that you  are not praying nor playing enough? Did you notice that Mary and Martha are sisters? In other words, the two are not supposed to be rivals nor enemies but sisters and friends?

A balanced life is lived with both Mary and Martha together. We cannot all be Martha all day and all days. We cannot all be Mary all day and all days. We need to pray but also to work. In the world, in the home and in every life, we need prayers but also workers. A good home is a place where Marthas and Marys live in peace and harmony. It is this kind of home that Jesus visits.

Some people are naturally dynamos of activity; others are naturally quiet. It is hard for the active person to understand the person who sits and contemplates. And the person who is devoted to quiet times and meditation is apt to look down on the person who would rather be active. This should not be so, because God did not make everyone alike. One person may pray,

"Lord of all pots and pans and things, Since I've no time to be a saint by doing lovely things, or watching late with you in prayer and vigils, make me a saint by getting meals and washing up the plates."

Another person may sit with folded hands and mind intense to think and pray. Both are serving God. God needs his Marys and his Marthas, too. That's why He made them as sisters.