IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD
All of us have wondered, “How
does this story about Martha and Mary fit into our lives today?”
When I was a little boy, we lived in a small
town in North Dakota
and attended Mass at a small country parish. I can remember a time when my Mom
complained after hearing the Gospel we just read. “Indeed, Martha, Martha, Mom,
Mom!!” she said. “Who would do the cleaning and cooking and washing around here
if we Martha’s didn’t do it? Nothing would get done if I just sat and thought
and talked about holy things!” I responded, “Oh, Mom! It’s your job to do
that!” Well, I quickly learned that that was the wrong thing to say, and I
truly learned a lesson – next time, keep my mouth shut and don’t think out
loud! Needless to say, I was instructed on how to do housework for the next few
days! Now, I truly know what all my Mom went through in raising eight kids;
five of them boys who were experts in making messes!
Perhaps some of you women have wondered about
this as well. All of us have wondered, “How does this story about Martha and
Mary fit into our lives today?” Practically all of our waking moments are very
busy; we have little time for sitting at the feet of Jesus. We would like to
pray more, attend daily Mass more frequently, and read our Bible and other
spiritual readings, but we just don’t have the time or energy. In reality,
though, Jesus wants us to be both Martha and Mary. He did not say that when we
work like Martha, we can’t pray like Mary, and vice versa. Their roles are
related. It takes effort but it can be done, for “there is need of only one
thing” (Lk 10:42a).
In the Responsorial Psalm, we prayed, “He who
does justice will live in the presence of the Lord” (Ps 15:1a). It is important
to start the day right. If our Morning Offering needs to be short, we can
simply pray, “O God, I offer this whole day to You.” It takes only a few
seconds to make a more expressive offering, like the following: “O God, I offer
You all my thoughts, words, and actions for Your greater honor and glory, in
union with Your Son Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Redeemer.” Repeat this kind of
offering often; not necessarily the whole prayer but the desire that what you
are thinking, saying, and doing, be offered to God. Connect this with something
you do frequently. For instance, every time you wash dishes, answer the
telephone (cell), make a bed, or even while taking a shower, offer those
moments to God. During this reflection time, decide just when, where, and how
you will take a few moments each day to offer what you are doing to God.
The saints were busy people as well! To them,
a hammer and saw, a pick and shovel, a broom and dust pan, a wash rag, writing
materials; these were treated as sacred as the chalice and ciborium on the
altar. St. Benedict laid down the rule that the monk in charge of the tools
should take care of them as he would the sacred vessels of the altar. Why?
Because their tools were the instruments with which his followers gave glory to
God!
Our journey toward holiness is found in this
spirit of serving God “always and everywhere”, as we prayed in today’s Preface.
Mass is the ideal means of being both Martha and Mary. Like Mary, we are
sitting at the feet of Jesus. Like Martha, we are busy joining in the hymns,
answering the prayers, standing, kneeling, and sitting. Paul urges us to give
God glory in everything: “And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do
everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through Him” (1 Col 3:17). When we’re sitting, eating, sleeping, and even when
we’re entertaining our friends and guests remember that the Lord Jesus is also
the Guest of our homes.
Abraham opened his home and welcomed three
unknown travelers as he welcomed the Lord, Who blessed him favorably for his
gracious hospitality. Jesus desires to be a Guest in the home of our hearts as
well, just as He was a guest in the home of Mary. His presence is a gift that
is freely given to us. Ask Jesus to help you be like both Martha and Mary. Ask
Him to help you do His work in the place He has provided you, and ask Him to
help you think of Him as you do His work.