Most of us have very busy, fast paced life. It seems like when I first became a priest, at least in the summer, things slowed down a bit. Now, even in the summer, my calendar is very busy. I don’t know about you, but if I don’t check my planning calendar each day, I don’t remember what I am doing one day to the next.
Even though Jesus lived 2,000 years ago in Ancient Israel, he lived a very busy life as well. He was going from village to village, visiting people, teaching in the synagogues and answering questions, performing miracles and proclaiming the kingdom of God. But Jesus realized that he needed down time as well. Several times we hear of Jesus fleeing the crowds in order to find a quiet space to rest. We also hear of times in the Gospels when Jesus enjoyed the kindness and hospitality of friends. He had a close friendship with the siblings Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. On their way back to Jerusalem, Jesus and his disciples passed through Bethany where they visited Mary and Martha. I think of how here in the South, a good home cooked meal is a big part of welcoming people just as it was in Ancient Israel.
The central teaching of today’s Gospel is not that Martha’s actions were bad and that Mary’s actions were good, although that is how this Gospel is often interpreted. I see today’s Gospel message centering upon balance and doing the right thing at the right time. Martha wanted to prepare dinner for her guests, knowing that if she sat around visiting with them, a welcoming dinner wasn’t going to prepare itself. If we didn’t have the Marthas of the world, how much would get done? I say that knowing that I have a very busy weekend with a lot going on. I am going to have to miss a luncheon on Saturday with only newly ordained deacons in order to celebrate a wedding in Spanish. And if I wasn’t busy writing homilies every day and going to meetings and doing the administrative work I have as vicar general, and instead spending all my time in prayer, reading, and studying, the things I need to accomplish would not get done.
I don’t think that Jesus is faulting Martha for her service, since the passage just before this in the 10th chapter of Luke’s Gospel is the parable of the Good Samaritan, which was the Gospel we heard last weekend. Isn’t Martha being a neighbor in the Gospel story today? It is Martha who recognizes that Jesus is probably hungry, thirsty, and tired after his journey. She has the gift of service and hospitality in her heart: what a wonderful gift that is. I don’t think Jesus is faulting Martha for wanting to be a good neighbor or a Good Samaritan, for putting her faith into action.
Perhaps it was the spirit that Martha embodied in that moment that Jesus was pointing out. She is encumbered by her serving. She is upset and anxious. Martha had definitely has Type A, driven personality. She gets things done.
But, sometimes we need to slow down, since we sometimes try to tackle too much. We can be stretched to our limits to the point of burnout. Having balance and simplifying our lives may be what God is calling us to do. The Canon law of the Church recognizes this for us priests, as we are required to attend a five day retreat each year of prayer and spiritual exercises.
When I was at the conference at Notre Dame this past week, one of the speakers mentioned how we priests need to address the reality of our work lives in our homilies. I know so many of you have a busy work life and other activities and obligations with your children and with your families, that sometimes finding time for prayer and the practice of our faith can be difficult. That is a lived reality many of us face. But, no matter how busy we are, taking time for our prayer time and for our spirituality is important, no matter how busy we can become.
Any of us can become like Martha in today’s Gospel. As Martha was getting irritated, it didn’t appear that the joy of the Gospel was filling her heart at that moment, as she is described as being burdened. Remember how Jesus tells us in Matthew’s Gospel, which we heard at daily Mass last Thursday: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Indeed, there are times when we have to bear down and make sacrifices and to give it our all. But it is a blessing for us to know when it is the time to bear down and then when it is time to rest and to enjoy. Remember, Jesus said that most important commandment is to love God with your heart, your soul, your strength, and your mind. And second is to love your neighbor as yourself. They come in that order. When we are centered on God, then our service and love can flow out of our faith. That is the way it is supposed to be for us as disciples of Christ.
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