Homily (Reflection) for the Sixteenth
Sunday of the Year (C) (21st July, 2019) on the Gospel
Gen 18:1-10;
Ps 14:2-5 (R.v.1);Col 1:24-28;
Lk 10:38-42.
One seminarian on apostolic work
experience visited one family during his home visitation. A little girl of
about six years old welcomed him and immediately informed him of her mum’s
absence. And without wasting time, she excused herself to announce his arrival to
her father who was upstairs. After about ten minutes, the little girl
resurfaced with a gift from her father. He was too busy to spare even a minute
for the seminarian. How would you feel if you were in the shoes of this seminarian?
Topic: Marriage is the solution.
Jesus entered the house of Martha
and Mary in today’s gospel. Martha was distracted by her many tasks. However,
Mary sat at the feet of Jesus listening to Him. It is important to recall that
even when their brother Lazarus died a similar episode also played out, cf. Jn 11:20. It will really be strange if
such sisters do not misunderstand themselves often; for Mary, Martha worries
too much and for Martha, Mary must be one of the most insensitive creatures on
earth. Martha complained to Jesus in today’s, “Lord do you not care that my
sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.”
Jesus said to her, “...Martha, Martha, you are worried and
distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the
better part, which will not be taken away from her.” If Jesus’ response is
looked at in isolation, the conclusion most probably will be, ‘Martha is wrong
whereas Mary is right’. Robert J. Karris advised that this be understood in
line with the era of household Christianity when women hosted the church in
their houses.[1]
Again, Jesus said to the seventy (seventy two) disciples while sending out,
“Remain in the same house, eating and
drinking whatever they provide .... Whenever you enter a town and its
people welcome you, eat what is set
before you” (Lk 10:7-8). If
Martha was wrong, how could the people have presented anything to the disciples
or would it have been another experience of 1Kgs 19:5-8?
We see in Martha, someone very much interested in taking
care of others’ physical needs without caring to spend a minute with them. On
the other hand, Mary is a very good listener, who enjoys others’ presence but
is not bothered about other needs of her guest/s. Just before we proceed, who
do you prefer as your hostess?
It will not be fair to consider any of these characters as
good and the other bad. Both characters are very important. For Barclay, there
is nothing wrong in either Martha or Mary. “Both are serving God. God needs his
Marys and his Marthas, too”.[2]
And for Robert J. Karris, the lesson is that the foundation of following Jesus
is listening to his word. And inasmuch as listening to the word of God is
important, putting it into practice is equally important.[3]
Martha and Mary represent two extremes. Mary without Martha
possess a problem likewise Martha without Mary. There is need for Mary to have
Martha and Martha to have Mary. Aristotle in his Nichomachean Ethics rightly asserted, in medio stat virtus, meaning, virtue stands in the middle.[4]
There is need for a marriage between the mary in Mary and the martha in Martha.
To be a good Christian is to have the two wherever one is.
Bible Reading: Lk 8:4-15. 14:15-24; 2Thess
3:6-15.
Thought for today: Are you
a Martha or a Mary or someone in-between?
Let
us pray: Lord, give me the grace to be Martha and Mary wherever I am
– Amen.
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