Mary and Martha

Reflection for Tuesday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time
(Gal 1:13-24; Lk 10:38-42)

In today’s Gospel, Jesus visits Mary and Martha. Mary stood at His feet and listened to His teaching, while Martha was busy with the serving. Mary directed her silence at Jesus in wrapt attentiveness, just as Martha was busy trying to entertain the Lord and to be at His service. Mary and Martha, silence and activity, are sisters! And both are directed at Jesus, though differently. Jesus becomes the link through which our silence and activity draw value and commune.

The sound of Mary's silence could be heard in the voice of Martha as she complained! Silence is power. Her silence was strong enough to move Jesus to appreciation. It was as if her silence drew words from the mouth of the Master. In silent attention we become available and receptive. Thus, Mary achieved in greater measure, through inner disposition, what Martha tried to do for the Lord through externalities.

Generally speaking, listening attentively is an inner job. Silence is the precondition for attentiveness. It involves certain level of self-abandonment in order to accommodate the other. Then the heart and mind are inclined to the other. It takes a lot of discipline.  I have noted in my earlier articles on this topic that silence is not dormancy. It is an act that needs to be practiced. However, it enriches ones inner self, refilling lost strength. If our silence is misdirected,  our inner peace will be unsettled. On the  other hand, if our activity does not flow from our silence, we will easily get worn out. Then, dissatisfaction, jealousy, complain, etc will set in. Could this be the issue with Martha?

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful.” The end point of Martha's serving was to please the Lord. So she ought to be engrossed in the Lord, not in things. But if her inner projection finds its locus in “things” –the servings—then Jesus would be a sort of “means”, or one of the “alternatives” that influence her activity. This implies that she would have had a certain sense of fulfilment in “getting things done” rather than her full purpose being rooted in ‘the joy of the Lord.’ There are many “Marthas” in the Church today...

Mary and Martha, Silence and Activity, now find their centre in Christ Jesus. The contemplation of the face of Jesus fills our soul with such vision and strength to embark on such activity that glorifies God and is life-giving. However, the Master affirms, “Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” The sound of silence is louder than words! Silence grasps in apt immediacy what words and action target through things.

As we approach Jesus in the Eucharist today, let us pause and be still. Speak Lord, your servant is listening.

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Holy Family Catholic Church
Festac Town,  Lagos.
Tuesday October 9th, 2018.