Martha And Mary

[AccountDeleted]

Tonight at Mass here in California, we had the Gospel reading of Martha and Mary followed by a very good homily about the reading. For some reason I heard it in a completely new way for me and it 'clicked' in my heart. I have always felt like a 'Mary' but for the past six years  I have been so busy wanting to 'be a nun' that perhaps I wandered into 'Martha' territory instead? Because tonight for some reason it seemed as if the Martha in me was complaining to Our Lord that she was tired of working so hard at something that hasn't borne any fruit. I know, it sounds strange, but it was really the first time that I felt I was both Martha and Mary- and not just Mary.

 

Tonight I heard Jesus saying to Martha that Mary was completely occupied in listening to God's word (Jesus Himself) and that this was the 'better' part so it wouldn't be taken from her - and the message I got from all of this was that I mustn't worry about what I am going to 'do' when I return to Australia or how I am going to serve God or try to respond to Him - but that I must just listen to His word and hear His voice in my heart. It was a very liberating feeling - as if a great weight had been lifted from me - a weight I didn't even know I was carrying!

 

Now I know there are many interpretations of this Gospel passage - and I am sure that it strikes different people in different ways at different times, so this isn't a Martha/Mary debate. It is one of my favorite passages in the Gospels and I was just reflecting on how I understood it tonight and wondering how others felt on hearing it again?

 

 

[Sister Marie]

There's a great book on this called "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" I think... the title could be slightly different.  I read it a few years ago and loved it.  A sister who I consider a saint gave me the book before she died and she was definitely the personification of having a Mary Heart in the midst of a Martha life.

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

Whats wrong with martha, the Lord didn't rebuke her works of mercy/service, he rebuked her fussing about it. The Lord never stated Marthas works where bad or fruitless, just that mary was in a better position, marthas works are still very important to the Lord but her complaining not so much.

 

Onward christian souls.

JESUS iz LORD.

 

\St Teresa Benedicta of the cross, Pray for us.

 

P.s. this is just my own thoughts and i have no theological degree, just what i was thinking after reading fr cappies word and listening to the homily of our parish deacon last night and this morning.pretty raw deal as if she is lesser or something, her works i am sure are highly prized by the LORD.

Edited July 21, 2013 by Tab'le Du'Bah-Rye

[AccountDeleted]

There's a great book on this called "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" I think... the title could be slightly different.  I read it a few years ago and loved it.  A sister who I consider a saint gave me the book before she died and she was definitely the personification of having a Mary Heart in the midst of a Martha life.

 

 

Sounds like a good book. I have met a few cloistered nuns who seem to live out that ideal of being a Martha with a Mary heart. Perhaps the trick is not to separate the two but to integrate them fully?

[cappie]

These verses show us something more—they show us the wrong type of kindness. Think where Jesus was going when this happened. He was on his way to Jerusalem—to die. His whole being was taken up with the intensity of the inner battle to bend his will to the will of God. When Jesus came to that home in Bethany it was a great day; and Martha was eager to celebrate it by laying on the best the house could give. So she rushed and fussed and cooked; and that was precisely what Jesus did not want. All he wanted was quiet. With the cross before him and with the inner tension in his heart, he had turned aside to Bethany to find an oasis of calm away from the demanding crowds if only for an hour or two; and that is what Mary gave him and what Martha, in her kindness, did her best to destroy. “One thing is necessary”—quite possibly this means, “I don’t want a big spread; one course, the simplest meal is all I want.” It was simply that Mary understood and that Martha did not.

 

Here is one of the great difficulties in life. So often we want to be kind to people—but we want to be kind to them in our way; and should it happen that our way is not the necessary way, we sometimes take offence and think that we are not appreciated. If we are trying to be kind the first necessity is to try to see into the heart of the person we desire to help—and then to forget all our own plans and to think only of what he or she needs. Jesus loved Martha and Martha loved him, but when Martha set out to be kind, it had to be her way of being kind which was really being unkind to him whose heart cried out for quiet. Jesus loved Mary and Mary loved him, and Mary understood.

 

[AnneLine]

Cappie, Thank you, that was Beautiful.

 

Nunsense and Sister Marie, I do like your insights as well.

 

Much to pray over....

Edited July 21, 2013 by AnneLine

[AccountDeleted]

These verses show us something more—they show us the wrong type of kindness. Think where Jesus was going when this happened. He was on his way to Jerusalem—to die. His whole being was taken up with the intensity of the inner battle to bend his will to the will of God. When Jesus came to that home in Bethany it was a great day; and Martha was eager to celebrate it by laying on the best the house could give. So she rushed and fussed and cooked; and that was precisely what Jesus did not want. All he wanted was quiet. With the cross before him and with the inner tension in his heart, he had turned aside to Bethany to find an oasis of calm away from the demanding crowds if only for an hour or two; and that is what Mary gave him and what Martha, in her kindness, did her best to destroy. “One thing is necessary”—quite possibly this means, “I don’t want a big spread; one course, the simplest meal is all I want.” It was simply that Mary understood and that Martha did not.

 

Here is one of the great difficulties in life. So often we want to be kind to people—but we want to be kind to them in our way; and should it happen that our way is not the necessary way, we sometimes take offence and think that we are not appreciated. If we are trying to be kind the first necessity is to try to see into the heart of the person we desire to help—and then to forget all our own plans and to think only of what he or she needs. Jesus loved Martha and Martha loved him, but when Martha set out to be kind, it had to be her way of being kind which was really being unkind to him whose heart cried out for quiet. Jesus loved Mary and Mary loved him, and Mary understood.

 

 

Cappie- I never thought about it from Jesus' point of view before - and that is an amazing perspective. Thank you so much. It takes the whole story out of just the active/contemplative debate and puts it into an entirely new realm. This is such a good example of how the Gospels reveal themselves over time in so many different ways to people. The richness of scripture is such a great gift to us all, as well as the diverse ways in which they are interpreted. It shows that even though we might read the same passages over many years, each time they can mean something new to us and open us up to deeper understandings.

 

Really, a wonderful post- thank you for sharing.

[AnneLine]

Absolutely.   I have found great benefit over the years in the suggestion of a spiritual director to 'pray through Jesus eyes' sometimes.  And your insights, Father, prove the value of that....

 

And... (somewhat off THIS topic....)  == both Cappie and Nunsense...

 

I saw Nunsense's thread asking about the Secular Franciscans here in Transmundane Lane.  For some reason it has been archived. (?)  And no one can reply in there (?).   (dUSt's cleanup may be a little TOO Franciscan -- get rid of ALL the posts!!!)

 

If you want an answer, Nunsense, you may need to repost that... and perhaps Fr. Cappie can answer some of the questions you are raising.... and some of the rest of us might have some thoughts, too!

[MissyP89]

Always makes me think of this song. It's a sad song, but relevant in a lot of ways.

 

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ive-zxmqk3Q[/media]

 

I'm Mary and I'm Martha all at the same time;
I'm sitting at His feet and yet I'm dying to be recognized.
I am a picture of contentment and I'm dissatisfied.
Why is it easy to work and hard to rest sometimes?
I'm restless, and I rustle like a thousand tall trees;
I'm twisting and I'm turning in an endless daydream.
You wrestle me at night and I wake in search of You...
but try as I might, I just can't catch You
But I want to, because I need You, yes, I need You
I can't catch You, but I want to.

 

How long, how long until I'm home?

I'm so tired, so tired of running
How long until You come for me?
I'm so tired, so tired of running

Edited July 21, 2013 by MissyP89

[cappie]

Re Martha, Mary debate over contemplative Vs active: Graham Hutchings, a Methodist minister once said - there is a need occasionally to get the visionaries in the kitchen and the kitchenaries in the vision. :hehe2:

[AccountDeleted]

Re Martha, Mary debate over contemplative Vs active: Graham Hutchings, a Methodist minister once said - there is a need occasionally to get the visionaries in the kitchen and the kitchenaries in the vision. :hehe2:

 

 

Wish we still had props!  :)

[AnneLine]

:saint2:   Props from me as well, Fr. Cappie!

[maximillion]

Amen to all that.

 

Fascinating and profound. Thanks to all........

 

Oh and I do so hope we have our props back SOON.

 

 

 

[Vincent Vega]

These verses show us something more—they show us the wrong type of kindness. Think where Jesus was going when this happened. He was on his way to Jerusalem—to die. His whole being was taken up with the intensity of the inner battle to bend his will to the will of God. When Jesus came to that home in Bethany it was a great day; and Martha was eager to celebrate it by laying on the best the house could give. So she rushed and fussed and cooked; and that was precisely what Jesus did not want. All he wanted was quiet. With the cross before him and with the inner tension in his heart, he had turned aside to Bethany to find an oasis of calm away from the demanding crowds if only for an hour or two; and that is what Mary gave him and what Martha, in her kindness, did her best to destroy. “One thing is necessary”—quite possibly this means, “I don’t want a big spread; one course, the simplest meal is all I want.” It was simply that Mary understood and that Martha did not.

 

Here is one of the great difficulties in life. So often we want to be kind to people—but we want to be kind to them in our way; and should it happen that our way is not the necessary way, we sometimes take offence and think that we are not appreciated. If we are trying to be kind the first necessity is to try to see into the heart of the person we desire to help—and then to forget all our own plans and to think only of what he or she needs. Jesus loved Martha and Martha loved him, but when Martha set out to be kind, it had to be her way of being kind which was really being unkind to him whose heart cried out for quiet. Jesus loved Mary and Mary loved him, and Mary understood.

Thanks, Father. I was reflecting on this reading all throughout our Eucharist yesterday, and I had a hard time figuring out how to make sense of Jesus telling Martha not to work in a world that begs for work. This provides a very keen insight. I appreciate it.

[Amelia]

These verses show us something more—they show us the wrong type of kindness. Think where Jesus was going when this happened. He was on his way to Jerusalem—to die. His whole being was taken up with the intensity of the inner battle to bend his will to the will of God. When Jesus came to that home in Bethany it was a great day; and Martha was eager to celebrate it by laying on the best the house could give. So she rushed and fussed and cooked; and that was precisely what Jesus did not want. All he wanted was quiet. With the cross before him and with the inner tension in his heart, he had turned aside to Bethany to find an oasis of calm away from the demanding crowds if only for an hour or two; and that is what Mary gave him and what Martha, in her kindness, did her best to destroy. “One thing is necessary”—quite possibly this means, “I don’t want a big spread; one course, the simplest meal is all I want.” It was simply that Mary understood and that Martha did not.

 

Here is one of the great difficulties in life. So often we want to be kind to people—but we want to be kind to them in our way; and should it happen that our way is not the necessary way, we sometimes take offence and think that we are not appreciated. If we are trying to be kind the first necessity is to try to see into the heart of the person we desire to help—and then to forget all our own plans and to think only of what he or she needs. Jesus loved Martha and Martha loved him, but when Martha set out to be kind, it had to be her way of being kind which was really being unkind to him whose heart cried out for quiet. Jesus loved Mary and Mary loved him, and Mary understood.

 

 

Excellent reflection.