Sunday March 27, 2022

Bethany (3) : Martha and Mary

Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things. Only one is needed. Mary chose the good part! Luke 10.41-42

Martha bends over backwards to serve. Yet we have just read Jesus' affectionate rebuke to him. Paraphrase : “What you are doing is useful, Martha, but today, all you had to do was “take a quiche out of the freezer”, dress your green salad and serve a fruit salad ! Only one thing is necessary for you : to open your heart to me, to listen to me, to really get to know me. Sit down next to me with Mary, dear Martha. I also have things to tell you."

Me too, I need this liberating word so much, because, like Martha, I tend to favor action over relationship !

Mary is seated at the feet of the Lord to be close to him, to learn from him. You realize, God made man is there, present in the house at Bethany ! Jesus is so precious to Mary that she will pour her precious perfume on him at another meal, where Martha will also serve ! So, how to disappear in the kitchens at this time ? Mary has certainly already worked and she will do the dishes.

But at this moment, it is the divine guest who offers the meal, and Mary's soul is hungry ! Indeed, is not Jesus the Bread of Life who truly satisfies (John 6.35), the Living Water who quenches the thirsty soul (John 4.10-14) ?

So, we too, come to the table !

Claude Schneider

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Proposed readings : Gospel according to Luke, chapter 10, verses 38 to 42, Gospel according to John, chapter 12, verses 1 to 3.

Source (Live Today)