Alliance for Catholic Education
Today's Gospel, where Jesus calls out Martha for being too concerned and anxious about getting things done always irks me a bit. You see, I'm a Mom and like you, I sincerely believe I am living out my vocational call by doing things for others. You and I, we may do different things, I do laundry (SO MUCH LAUNDRY!), I make at least 21 under-appreciated meals a day, I check homework, go to meetings, and on and on it goes. As do you. I know your days are filled with demands from students, teachers, parents, community members, ACE staff, Me, and I know this list barely breaks the surface. I also know that you do what you do, day after day, out of obediance to the Gospel call on your life. You are living a faithful life because we are told, aren't we, that we will be judged ultimately on if we fed the hingry, visited the imprisoned, cared for the least of us. So why does Jesus fuss at Martha? I feel condemned right along with Martha when Jesus says Mary chose the better way. How I long to sit in prayer and pay full attention to Jesus. But someone has to see that things GET DONE. Why wasn't Mary helping and why Jesus was okay with her not helping?
Perhaps Martha's mistake wasn't in her activity but in her comparing herself to Mary. Thou shalt not compare. That is a damning road to go down, that road of comparing yourself to the next person. You are you. I am me. You and I have been given specific circumstances, dreams and abundant gifts. Use them. Don't compare yourself with your community members, co-hort, brothers, sisters, parents, people on tv, Fr. Lou... (I mean none of us will be Fr. Lou!) but you get the point. Be you. As my kids say, Do you. But be you and do you in service to others, not minding what others are doing. And in doing so you will build the Kingdom right where you are this very minute.