July 20, 2025
Luke 10: 38-42
Jesus is traveling and stops at the home of Martha and Mary. He meets the two sisters in their ordinary surroundings. He is welcomed by the two; nevertheless, their attitude reveals two different characters.
Martha acts in a manner which shows Jesus what she is able to do for him by her love and respect for him. As for Mary, she stops her activities and sits down to listen and contemplate Jesus.
Martha appears like the one who is always active and hospitable; Mary has a listening attitude. Luke highlights this well: “Mary remained seated at the feet of the Lord, listening to his word. Martha was involved by the many tasks of service.”
Which one speaks to us most? What seems to be the most important? What Martha does for Jesus or what Jesus does for the two sisters?
Indeed, the two sisters admire and love Jesus deeply, but each one expresses it according to her own nature. The difference between the two sisters is noted in their relationship with him. Martha is connected with Jesus in the day to day (she receives) while Mary is by choice (she listens).
“Martha wants to do wonderful things for Jesus, and this takes up her whole life; she feels overwhelmed. Mary sits at the feet of Jesus, looks at him intently, listening passionately. (Jean-Marie Van Parys, Ecouter la Parole, édition Loyola, 2011, P.122).
Mary is content, Martha is close to discontent and she complains, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.”
Jesus responds to her, “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.”
Messenger of good news, Jesus, good news himself comes to offer his living word to reveal the love and mercy of the Father, he himself is nourishment. His presence and his word bring a gift transcending value, a gift better than the feast which Martha prepares for him.
Martha is not blamed for his qualities of “mistress of the house” nor for her concern about nourishment for the body; it is with friendship and tenderness that Jesus speaks to Martha. He sees her good will, but her presence means more than the generosity of Martha. Welcoming the Lord is first of all listening and allowing herself to be transformed and capable of entering into a real relationship of being. Recognizing the value of what Jesus brings is what Mary brings.
Martha wishes to celebrate with art and to celebrate the presence of Jesus. Mary wishes to receive the gift beyond price which Jesus makes through his presence and his word. This is the better part, says Jesus. She has made a good choice. For this, one needs willingness of heart.
Nevertheless, Saint Julie invites to be « Martha and Mary; she wants to show that the two figures are important in our life.
We can identify two dimensions of our consecration: love and service, contemplation and action. These are two inseparable dimensions for a fulfilling consecrated life.
Mary without Martha: this is a daily offering us from a life of preoccupation, anguish, concern and inquietude. Mary without Martha: takes us away from the essential, burdens us with a preoccupied, anguished, worried and anxious life because we do not sufficiently welcome Christ who lives in our life and who enlivens the mission.
But this is not sufficient, because it is necessary to welcome Christ incognito, the neighbor, the child, the poor, the stranger, the unknown. There is also something of HIM to reveal to us, to offer us, to share, to free ourselves from our inquietudes, to remove us from our agitations and help us to discover something of their uniqueness.
Called to witness to the Goodness of God in the world, we seek to unite contemplation and action in our lives.
“May the very holy Mary, Mother of the Church, give us the grace to love and serve God and others with the hands of Martha and the heart of Mary, with a goal of listening as Christ, we may be artisans of peace and hope. And this is interesting: by these two attitudes we will be artisans of peace and hope.” (Pope Francis, Angelus July 21, 2019).
Luke 10: 38-42
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Meet Sister Adrienne Kapela, SNDdeN 