Today's gospel is Mary and Martha. Christ always tries to contrast the physical and the spiritual, the mundane, daily world from the world of God. Often these examples are startling--leaving one's home, selling all you own, leaving the plow. But those examples have a certain harsh context: Christ is contrasting the world of the New Testament with the older, contracted world of Israel, tribe and family. He wants to free the people's minds from the black hole of their land and history. With Mary and Martha, He places it in a softer light, a domestic setting with two devoted friends.
Martha and Mary are entertaining Christ but Mary is spending her time sitting and listening to Christ. When Martha, who has been busy with the entertaining work, complains to Christ, He says: "Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and art troubled by many things: But one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part.."
His comfort is a function of Martha's efforts. He knows and appreciates that. She is "careful and...troubled by many things." That is how we all are; that is our world. He knows that, too. He sympathizes with her.
But He will not allow her to be distracted by the world from the universal that is the world.
Martha and Mary are entertaining Christ but Mary is spending her time sitting and listening to Christ. When Martha, who has been busy with the entertaining work, complains to Christ, He says: "Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and art troubled by many things: But one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part.."
His comfort is a function of Martha's efforts. He knows and appreciates that. She is "careful and...troubled by many things." That is how we all are; that is our world. He knows that, too. He sympathizes with her.
But He will not allow her to be distracted by the world from the universal that is the world.
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