7/29/2011 – Homily - Memorial of St Martha – Friday – Luke 10:38-42

If you’re like me, you might find the story of Mary and Martha in today's Gospel somewhat troubling, since it hits home to our busy lives and the responsibilities we have in our modern American world. While I sympathize with Martha's need to get her work done and to show hospitality to her guest, I also can identify with Mary's need to be at the feet of our Lord, to be in his presence, to learn all she can from him. So, as we celebrate the memorial of St Martha today, what exactly can we learn from the story of Mary and Martha; how can we incorporate these lessons into our own journey of faith?

On any given day, most of us probably feel pulled in so many directions. Perhaps that is at the heart of what Martha is feeling, why she comes to Jesus out of frustration and exasperation: I am so busy with trying to serve you as my guest.  Can't you tell Martha to help me?  Look at our own busy modern lives.  If you're like me, you cannot  schedule an appointment without first consulting the calendar on an iphone or a day planner.  Usually, I cannot even remember what meeting or activity I have set up for the next day. Like Martha in ancient Israel, we also wonder how we can get everything done, how we can fit everything into our schedule. Yet, look at the answer Jesus gives to Martha: Don't be so worried and stressed out. Look at the better part that Mary has chosen. Don't try to take that away from her.

As we think about Martha and what she is trying to do, maybe we shouldn't see Jesus' response to Martha as a rebuke, but rather as a way of pointing out how our faith can get lost in the shuffle of our over-loaded schedules, how recognizing God's presence in our lives can be overwhelmed by all we’re trying to get done.  No matter where we are in our journey of faith, no matter what we’re called to do in our lives, no matter what mundane activities we perform each day, may we allow our relationship with Jesus to help us see the sacred and divine elements of our lives, to see the holiness present to us in each and every moment.