Two realities of the faithful: Listeners or distracted wanderers
(Lk 10:38-42)
Bethany is only a few kilometres from the holy city of Jerusalem: an ideal community of only brothers and sisters, coordinated by a woman [Martha: 'lady'].
Right in the midst of the hostile environment of the learned and pure, the Lord does not allow himself to be sequestered by sacred precincts.
Trait of a Father who does not sit enthroned - but stands at the door and knocks.
He does not take pleasure in scheming: His loving Face leaks out in contexts that may share difficult choices.
Surprisingly, the Son of God is the only one to enter the 'village', though surrounded by his own (v.38).
Intimate, yet unable to teach and discern, because dependent.
Unlike the Apostles, only He is able to liberate - and emancipate again - because free and enfranchised.
In that culture it was highly improper to accept the hospitality of women [only John speaks of Lazarus].
But where Jesus comes, the legacies that discriminate against people are glossed over.
However, even in the homes where the Messiah is understood, there are two different ways of welcoming the Lord.
Some lack something, "absorbed in great service" (v.40); others make the "good" choice.
The "good part" (v.42 Greek text) is personal Freedom, which no intimidation or haste of others will be able to take away and oppress.
In fact, Mary "even" (v.39 Greek text) sat at Jesus' feet and listened.
The position is significant because it was that of the disciple towards the master.
Mary does not have an intimate, abstruse and devout attitude, but a surprising and seriously transgressive one (appropriate with God).
In fact, the guest was only welcomed by men; women were to be secluded and not to appear.
No spiritual leader would ever accept a woman among his disciples.
But here we are talking about the reception of Jesus and his Word: that reception that qualifies things at the bottom of the list, instead of at the top.
"Martha was distracted about much service..." (v.40).
Serving is not the same as taking Communion.
She remains in distress, in turmoil; divided in heart (v.41 Greek text), drawn between opposing choices, almost thrown up in the air.
A profile that we also recognise today: of titled people with a busy schedule; who as soon as they wake up begin to fidget and prick.
It seems important to them not to make themselves and others feel already rich, 'perfect' for their mission; full of resources.
Always restless and scattered about material things - which then overwhelm them - they make themselves "over" Jesus (v.40 Greek text).
And they arrive at the end of the day without ever having found an ideal hinge that gives meaning, nourishes the spirit, soothes the soul, unites their efforts with personal dialogue with God - at least in terms of ideals.
Every day agitated and unsatisfied, these tormented doomsayers will not listen to the shaky and insignificant: never get distracted by the 'great' and procrastinate.
Thus unfortunately no wall or any of the labours will fade away.
Nor will they allow anyone to notice other ways of personal exodus, and opportunities that on the spur of the moment cannot be seen.
Caught up in the tension, like Martha, they do not understand that every authentic relationship is born of Listening.
They do not grasp the essential: the unimportant little that makes one feel good is not to be overlooked - indeed it is the foundation of our being and joy in life.
The ever restless and practising ones unfortunately remain on the outside, sometimes as opportunists. And they keep (everyone) trapped.
So one must submit to laboured goals or stay out of the way, to avoid getting in the way of agitated and indigestible agendas - which obviously overpower the Gospel, so meagre and inapparent.
Recall and attunement that conversely should precede and accompany the idea and the action.
What they do not know and what does not concern them becomes trivial.
Conversely, it is attention, prayer, desire (or place and time) that really could contribute to understanding, falling in love, balance, and the very effective incisiveness of the works.
Instead of the "many things" (v.41) we need "One only" (v.42 Greek text): to be in one's centre and to host the Voice of the resigned character that becomes the full Kingdom within.
Thus, as overflowing with fullness poured out in simplicity, then each has great capacity for growth and transformation.
Those at the top of their class never have the will, nor the head - and by now not even the time - to care for their beginnings and not immediately their terms.
So they do not listen to the Word in the Newness of the Spirit. (Who knows if the global crisis will be an eloquent reminder).
The all-inclusive leaders are precisely eager to establish as many appearances, ties, ropes and alliances as possible, too many of them: none of them really important - and perhaps only to impress.
The unease about formation, life and pastoral care is enormous, because attachment to roles cuts off the contribution of stupors. Happy moments, nestled in the possibilities of replacement, and - as we see - leaving a sense of emptiness everywhere.
Then comes a further, jangling Call ("Martha, Martha...": v.41).
Call of the deep being, which ceaselessly recovers from the neglect of the essential.
The Vocation in the Name allows us to pause to encounter ourselves and others, our deepest states and motivations; in order to understand and enjoy what has already been done or is being done, without dehumanising beforehand.
All this is so that we regain the breath of the soul, its character - and do not lose our heads, always putting up a big fuss that upsets everyone.
Even a better performance will come as a surprise:
"Two lumberjacks were working in the same forest felling trees. The logs were imposing, solid and tenacious. The two lumberjacks used their axes with identical skill, but with a different technique: the first one struck his tree with incredible constancy, one blow after another, without stopping except to catch his breath a few seconds. The second logger made a discreet stop every hour he worked. By sunset, the first woodcutter was halfway up his tree. He had sweated blood and tears and would not have lasted five minutes longer. The second was incredibly at the end of his trunk. They had started together and the two trees were the same! The first logger could not believe his eyes. 'I don't understand a thing! How did you manage to go so fast if you were stopping every hour?' The other smiled: 'You saw that I was stopping every hour. But what you did not see is that I was taking advantage of the stop to sharpen my axe'. Our spirit is like the axe, we must not let it rust: every day it must be sharpened a little'. (B. FERRERO, The Secret of the Goldfish, p.64).
Listening will supplant grievances, disaffection, opportunistic and external calculations; reasoning, regrets, and the opinion around - even about us - all enemies of Rebirth, the one that does not block intimate energies.
We recognise ourselves.
Things "our own", from the realm of man, settle in and are immediately recognised, because they are all foreign - and take our breath away.
Only a different Perception will convey patience, steady nerves, lucidity to wait for the ripe times, determination even in afflictions; the possibility of finding innate abilities.
The Message of the Lord will convey the Judgement of the Crucified One, and an appropriate rhythm.
His Teaching will bestow equilibrium, good disposition, the ability to overcome the oppositions of an ambiguous world that agitates to perpetuate itself (and does not let go of the bone of its mouth).
The instinct of the Word within and the providential reality will build a track of our own even through losses and scars.
Indeed, when our busy minutes become empty and the slow hours become enchantment, we will even improve our resilience and performance.
Made wise and incisive according to our Seed, we will not accuse Jesus of being "left alone to serve" (v.40).
We will no longer go in circles, and our gestures will become valuable: sharp.
Absorbed, or Surprised
"Also on this Sunday, the reading from the tenth chapter of the evangelist Luke continues. Today's passage is that of Martha and Mary. Who are these two women? Martha and Mary, sisters of Lazarus, are relatives and faithful disciples of the Lord, who lived in Bethany. St Luke describes them in this way: Mary, at Jesus' feet, "listened to his word", while Martha was engaged in many services (cf. Lk 10:39-40). Both offer welcome to the passing Lord, but do so in different ways. Mary is at Jesus' feet, listening, while Martha is absorbed in the things to be prepared, and is so busy that she turns to Jesus and says: "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me alone to serve? So tell her to help me" (v. 40). And Jesus responds by gently rebuking her: "Martha, Martha, you fret and fret about many things, but only one ... is needed" (v. 41).
What does Jesus mean by this? What is this one thing we need? First of all, it is important to understand that it is not a matter of the opposition between two attitudes: listening to the word of the Lord, contemplation, and concrete service to one's neighbour. They are not two opposing attitudes, but, on the contrary, they are two aspects that are both essential to our Christian life; aspects that should never be separated, but lived in profound unity and harmony. But why then did Martha receive the rebuke, even if it was done gently? Because she considered only what she was doing to be essential, that is, she was too absorbed and preoccupied with things to 'do'. In a Christian, works of service and charity are never detached from the main source of all our action: that is, listening to the Word of the Lord, standing - like Mary - at the feet of Jesus, in the attitude of a disciple. And for this Martha is rebuked.In our Christian life too, let prayer and action always be profoundly united. A prayer that does not lead to concrete action towards the poor, sick, needy brother, the brother in difficulty, is a sterile and incomplete prayer. But in the same way, when in Church service one is only attentive to doing, one gives more weight to things, functions, structures, and forgets the centrality of Christ, one does not set aside time for dialogue with Him in prayer, one risks serving oneself and not God present in the brother in need. St Benedict summed up the lifestyle he indicated to his monks in two words: 'ora et labora', pray and work. It is from contemplation, from a strong relationship of friendship with the Lord that is born in us the capacity to live and bring God's love, his mercy, his tenderness towards others. And our work with our needy brother, our charity work in works of mercy, also leads us to the Lord, because we see the Lord in our needy brother and sister.
Let us ask the Virgin Mary, Mother of listening and service, to teach us to meditate in our hearts on the Word of her Son, to pray with fidelity, to be ever more concretely attentive to the needs of our brothers and sisters".
[Pope Francis, Angelus 21 July 2013].
"In this Sunday's passage, the evangelist Luke recounts Jesus' visit to the home of Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus (cf. Lk 10:38-42). They welcome him, and Mary sits at his feet to listen to him; she leaves what she was doing to be close to Jesus: she does not want to miss any of his words. Everything must be put aside because, when He comes to visit us in our lives, His presence and His word come before everything else. The Lord always surprises us: when we truly listen to him, clouds vanish, doubts give way to truth, fears to serenity, and the different situations of life find their rightful place. The Lord always, when he comes, sets things right, even for us.
In this scene of Mary of Bethany at the feet of Jesus, St Luke shows the prayerful attitude of the believer, who knows how to stand in the presence of the Master to listen to him and to put himself in tune with him. It is a question of pausing during the day, of recollecting oneself in silence, a few minutes, to make room for the Lord who 'passes by' and to find the courage to remain a little 'aloof' with Him, to then return to everyday things with serenity and effectiveness. Praising the behaviour of Mary, who "chose the better part" (v. 42), Jesus seems to repeat to each one of us: "Do not let yourself be overwhelmed by the things to be done, but listen first to the voice of the Lord, in order to carry out well the tasks that life assigns you".
Then there is the other sister, Martha. St Luke says that it was she who sheltered Jesus (cf. v. 38). Perhaps Martha was the older of the two sisters, we do not know, but certainly this woman had the charisma of hospitality. In fact, while Mary is listening to Jesus, she is busy with her many services. That is why Jesus says to her: "Martha, Martha, you toil and fret over many things" (v. 41). With these words He certainly does not mean to condemn the attitude of service, but rather the busyness with which one sometimes lives it. We too share St Martha's concern and, following her example, we propose to ensure that, in our families and communities, we live the sense of welcome, of fraternity, so that everyone can feel "at home", especially the little ones and the poor when they knock on the door.
Therefore, today's Gospel reminds us that the wisdom of the heart lies precisely in knowing how to combine these two elements: contemplation and action. Martha and Mary show us the way. If we want to savour life with joy, we must combine these two attitudes: on the one hand, "standing at the feet" of Jesus, to listen to Him as He reveals to us the secret of everything; on the other, being considerate and ready in hospitality, when He passes by and knocks on our door, with the face of a friend in need of a moment of refreshment and fraternity. We need this hospitality.
May Mary Most Holy, Mother of the Church, give us the grace to love and serve God and our brothers and sisters with the hands of Martha and the heart of Mary, so that by always listening to Christ we may be artisans of peace and hope. And this is interesting: with these two attitudes we will be artisans of peace and hope".
[Pope Francis, Angelus 21 July 2019]
