The Gospel last Sunday was about the story of Martha and Mary receiving the Lord, Jesus, into their home. Martha busied herself preparing everything for the Lord, while Mary sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to his words. Martha, burdened with so much serving, approached the Lord and told him to tell her sister to help her with the preparations. But the Lord told her that Mary had chosen the better part, and it would not be taken away from her.
Applying the message of this story into our lives, we can say that the “Marys” in our society today are those nuns and monks who chose a life of seclusion., the contemplative life, and spend their days praying for us and for our intentions. Perhaps they are also praying for peace and for the salvation of souls. Indeed, they have chosen the better part. The better part, yes, because they are deemed closer to the Lord than any ordinary human being, and maybe they are so advanced in the holiness of their lives.
On the other hand, the “Marthas” in our society are the ordinary people who need to work hard for their families-so much so that they sometimes miss attending the Sunday liturgy because they have tp spend that time working. Sometimes they even try to turn night into day just so they can work more and work harder.
It is true that there are moments in our lives when we become so involved in what we are doing that we forget why we are doing it. We can get so involved in living that we forget the purpose of living. We can become so focused on pursuing the things money can buy that we forget about the things money can never buy. Missing the point is a common error. This is the kind of mistake that Martha made in today’s Gospel. She got so involved in preparing a meal for Jesus that she forgot why Jesus had come. He did not come for a free meal; He came to be with friends.
The “Marys” in our society may have chosen the better part— and I cannot disagree with that. However, the “Marthas” in our society—those who are working hard and showing honesty and dedication to their jobs for the well-being of their families—did not choose a lesser option. They, too, are blessed because their desire to help their families live better lives by sending their children to school to succeed in life is also a path to holiness. Every sacrifice that they make for the sake of their families is counted by God and will never be without value in His eyes.
The sad truth, however, is that there are people who do not only miss the Sunday obligation but even disregard the presence of God in their lives altogether. These are the people who are enslaved by excessive greed for money, power, and fame. These are the people who, because they no longer feel God’s presence, will do anything just to satisfy their selfish whims and caprices. And because they no longer feel the presence of the sacred, they are also living in sin—and many of their sins are against the vulnerable and helpless, who are at their beck and call. This is the darker side of the coin of “Marthas” in our society.
Well, if Mary had chosen the better part, we might conclude that Martha chose the lesser part. But I believe that there must be a best part—and it should not be hidden.
The best part is the very purpose of Jesus’ coming into their home. He must have had a reason for visiting their town and entering their house. I believe the Lord came to give them His very self—and they failed to fully receive Him. They didn’t even ask the Lord: “Why are You here?” Instead, they immediately did what they thought was the right thing to do.
My dear friends, this is also our failure. Most of us are like Martha in the Gospel. We think it is always pleasing to God when we work with diligence and honesty. While that is good, we must not underestimate the power of prayer in keeping us grounded in out purpose. We must always be ready to welcome Jesus in our lives—by letting Him take the wheel and lead us in the right direction: the path that leads to Him.
Accepting God means carrying His presence with us to wherever we go. It means wearing the heart of Jesus so we may learn how to love, how to forgive, and how to be true brothers and sisters to one another. This may be a difficult task, but through prayer, God will always give us the grace we need to fulfill our mission.
This is the meaning of our Christian faith, and this is the challenge God places before our feet. Now, the question is: Are we ready to walk the road that leads to Him—and to His Cross?