Memorial of Saint Martha

Saint Meinrad Archabbey

Mary has chosen the better part

and it will not be taken from her.

The Holy Spirit whips and winds endlessly like a persistent whirlwind through human histories and cultures, generating all kinds of fascinating, mysterious responses. One of the most wonderful results has been the impulse of particular Christians to separate themselves from the dominant culture and create a society founded on the Gospel.

As the Roman Empire disintegrated many people went into the wilderness to live a simple life of prayer and penance. They did not marry or have children because they expected the end of the world would come too soon for such long term investments. But, as time passed, they created their own cities of monks and nuns; and their own way of life, which was dedicated to prayer, fasting and works of mercy.

In later centuries that impulse for holiness and apartness would drive them back into the cities to build hospitals, orphanages and schools to care for the poor.

All of these religious institutes were dedicated to prayer and they invoked the story of Jesus’ preference for Mary. These “contemplatives” were choosing the “better part” Jesus assigned to her.

The Church celebrates these two women, Mary and Martha, on July 22 and July 29; but the story of Saint Mary of Bethany has become tangled with that of Saint Mary Magdalene. The woman caught in adultery (John 8), prostitutes, Mary of Bethany, Mary of Magadala and several other women are all compressed into one person under one name, Mary Magdalene. Feminist theologians rightly protest this unfortunate tradition. Interestingly, Orthodox Eastern Churches have kept these stories unentangled; they celebrate Martha and Mary on June 4.

In this 21^st century the Church strives to hear the story of Martha and Mary with new ears. First the story reminds us of the importance of prayer. Whether we have chosen the active or contemplative life, we must pray. As the bumper stickers say, “If you’re too busy to pray, you’re too busy.”

The workaholic accomplishes far less than the person who lives a balanced life. Martha, in her obsessive eagerness to please the Lord, would drive him out of her home. Mary, in this particular moment, is far more hospitable as she does nothing but focus all her attention on the Lord.

A  monk at the archabbey 

As we celebrate these sisters today we do well to remember the example of the saints. Virtually all the saints dedicated long hours to prayer and yet many of them accomplished great works. Some managed a schedule that would exhaust an Olympic athlete. We join in their great works as we participate in the life of the church; each of us doing what we can insofar as God allows us.