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A
Message to Martha
July
18, 2004 Homily
Fr.
George Smiga
Luke
10:38-42
Today's
gospel is perhaps the most dangerous passage in all of the
scriptures. I have been a priest now for over twenty-five
years and I have had to speak on many touchy issues. But no
gospel strikes greater fear into my heart than this one. Why?
Well you know the story. Jesus goes to the home of the two
sisters, Mary and Martha. Mary sits at his feet to listen
to his words while Martha is responsible for all the tasks
of hospitality. However, when Martha comes to complain and
ask that Mary help her with the work, Jesus sides with Mary,
saying that she has chosen the better part and it shall not
be taken from her.
Why
is this so dangerous? Because I know that there are Marthas
here this morning. They are the workers of the world. They
are not only women but men as well. They are the first people
to say yes when you have a need. They are willing to roll
up their sleeves and get things done. They take pride in their
work. They do not complain. They ask for little in return.
Often they do not even expect a thank you. BUT– if they ever
did ask for a helping hand, if they ever humble themselves
enough to say, “Would you assist me?” and someone were to
dismiss that request as lightly as Jesus did to Martha in
today's gospel and instead point to some sweetie laying on
the couch contemplating the mysteries of life and say, “She
has chosen the better part,”—well you wouldn't want to be
there. It would get ugly.
So
I know that you Marthas are out there. I know when you heard
this gospel your jaw began to tense. When Jesus sided with
Mary you said, “Huh! He's sitting in a clean house, eating
a hot meal. How does he think these things are going to happen
if everybody chooses the better part ?” I know that
you Marthas have already written Jesus off – Son of God, or
not: “That man doesn't get it.” And I recognize that your
eyes are now fixed on me. You are waiting to see whether I
will agree with Jesus or not. If I do, twenty-five years of
experience tells me, I'll hear about it.
I
hope you can recognize my dilemma. My job is to agree with
Jesus. It is what I signed up for on ordination day. But,
on this issue, I understand what the consequences will be
if I do so. So here's my plan. I have scheduled my vacation
for this week. And I am going to give this homily and get
out of town.
This
is what I think Jesus is saying. “Martha, Martha, I deeply
appreciate the work that you do, the committees you chair,
the service you render, the meals that you cook, the hours
you labor. I know the world would not function without your
energy and skill. But I love you Martha, and so I need to
ask this question. Do you know that there are things in your
life more important than work? Do you know that as valuable
as it is to give to others, you also need to take for yourself?
“Do
you understand that along with all the time you use, there
must also be time that you waste, time when you set aside
all your responsibilities and have some fun? You need time
to think about questions with no practical purpose, such as,
why bees are attracted to flowers, or whether God is male
or female, or when was the last time you laughed so hard it
made you cry. You might think that such questions are trivial
and a waste of time. But they are an opportunity to embrace
the mystery of life.
“I
do not want you to stop working, Martha, but neither do I
want you to lose yourself. I love you, Martha. You need to
know that I love you not for the things you do, but for the
person you are. You are “the better part,” the part that must
not be overlooked or forgotten. I want you to realize how
valuable, how precious you are to me.”
Marthas,
that is what I think that Jesus is saying. Not that you work
is unimportant, but that it is not everything. Not that we
do not deeply appreciate what you do, but we want you to realize
how important you are. Therefore, you have the right to take
time for fun, to take time to think and pray, to set aside
time to waste. All of these “Mary things” are a part of life.
Jesus wants to be sure that they are a part of yours.
That
is what I think Jesus is saying. And now that I have agreed
with him—I'm out of here!
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