The Gospel of Luke, chapter 10:42

Chapter ten of St. Luke’s Gospel invites us to look at the whole picture. We are asked to think about work and prayer, about Martha and Mary.

In this story, Jesus is the welcomed guest in the home of Martha and Mary at Bethany. Martha is very busy trying to please her guest by taking care of all the household duties like cooking a meal and setting the table. Mary on the other hand is very happy to enjoy Jesus’ company by sitting by his feet and listening “to his word.” Which of the two, do you think, was the better off? Martha or Mary? Well Martha thought Mary was freeloading and she was concerned that Jesus didn’t seem too bothered. So, she told Jesus to tell Mary to help her. Jesus’ answer must have taken her by surprise. “Martha,” He said, “you are anxious and upset about many things; one thing only is required. Mary has chosen the better portion and she shall not be deprived of it.”

Naturally, Jesus does not want to create a split between the activity of Martha and the contemplation of Mary. He wants us to see that the behavior of both Martha and Mary is fruitful, and that Mary had chosen the better and deeper portion. Jesus is striking a balance between Mary’s behavior of listening to the word and Martha’s behavior of getting things done. He is not scorning Martha’s work. He is praising Mary’s attitude and is asking Martha not to reject “the better portion.”

Our activity won’t amount to a hill of beans if it isn’t grounded in the word of the Lord. Work is necessary, but it makes all the sense in the world when it is anchored in the word of the Lord. Contemplation is necessary in order to inspire action. Martha and Mary are two sides of the big picture. When they are amalgated, the picture is complete. Together, these two women offer a model of Christian virtue which unites contemplation and action, prayer and good works. Mary’s contemplation of the word, however, is the better portion for it achieves the kind of spiritual renewal from within that changes the quality of a person’s actions and behavior.

Fr. Hugh Duffy