Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Friends,

Today’s Gospel visits sisters Martha and Mary as they experience the rare and special joy of hosting Jesus in their very home. I must admit, since childhood I have struggled with this Gospel. Martha is doing her best to take care of their guest, while Mary sits idly by enjoying his company, and I have always felt indignant right along with Martha! I come from a big family, and the idea that I would be left to do the chores while one of my siblings entertains a celebrity guest fills me with what can only be described as righteous fury. And yet, when Martha understandably speaks up and points out the injustice of the situation to Jesus, his reply is confounding. Instead of nodding in agreement and suggesting that Mary should pitch in, he answers Martha with this affectionate reprimand: "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken from her."

Now, if I were in this situation with one of my siblings and I received this response from Jesus, I would quite literally never recover. But today, as I read this Gospel again, I find myself putting aside my indignation and drawing some new insights:

1. Martha is in a room with God himself, and yet she still thinks it falls to her to do the work to provide and make everything perfect. How often I do this myself! Jesus stands by so patiently waiting for me to surrender my efforts to him, and instead, like a foolish child, I rush around trying to fix things myself.

2. Martha compares herself to others, and it yields unsatisfying results. Jesus, her Savior and Redeemer, is right there in her home, and yet she only has eyes for her sister and how they compare, and what Mary could be doing differently. This, too, is a frequent trap I fall into: I compare myself to others when Jesus is inviting me to see myself as he sees me.

3. When Martha addresses Jesus, it is only to lodge a plea and complaint. How many times, like Martha, have I begun my prayer with “Lord, do you not care--” and go on to list all my worries and grievances? Jesus listens to these prayers, but he also invites us into a deeper prayer like Mary’s: sitting at his feet, basking in his gaze, and receiving his love without grasping for control.

I will always sympathize with Martha, but this week I am striving to be a Mary! Lord, help us to recognize your presence in our midst, and to put aside our tasks and our worries in favor of basking in your gentle gaze.

-Jule Coppa, Penn Campus Minister