Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 29, 2019
Jesus entered a village
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me.”
The Lord said to her in reply,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”
It is almost a little too easy to relate to Martha in today’s reading. Since I began reflecting on this Gospel, I have often said to myself, “You’re doing it again. You’re pulling a Martha.” Luckily though, as I identify with Martha and her many concerns and worries, Jesus’ words seem as if they are spoken directly to me.
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.”
I take comfort reading that Jesus first acknowledged Martha’s worries and concerns. It reminds me that he knows all my worries—current worries and the inevitable worries of the future. Recognizing that Jesus knows I, too, am “anxious and worried about many things” helps me trust that I am not alone as I journey through any challenge.
“There is need of only one thing.”
Through Martha, Jesus provides us with this simple guideline for how to approach life. How comforting is it to know that the one thing we need to take on life’s challenges we already have and always will. We just need to pause and sit before Jesus as Mary did, to give him time and space to equip us with what we need.
Next time we find ourselves “pulling a Martha,” let us take a moment to borrow, as a simple prayer, Jesus’ words: “There is need of only one thing.” May this prayer bring us a sense of comfort, strength, and renewed trust that Jesus is there with us in all of our joys and struggles.
Prayer
Good and gracious God, your Word opens our minds and hearts. Each day we strive to live your Word. Help us to listen to your Son, to trust in his healing power. Never abandon us in time of suffering and loss. Bring us your comfort and assurance. Like Martha, may we turn to your Son in our time of need, and find comfort in his presence. We ask this in his name. Amen.
Saint of the Day
The Gospel of John tells us that “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” (11:5)—these three siblings were close friends of Jesus and he relied on them for support.
They lived in Bethany, a small town two miles outside of Jerusalem. When Jesus began preaching throughout Judea, he would stop at their house for rest during his travels. Scripture mentions Jesus stopping at their house in three different accounts.
Martha was oldest of these three siblings, and appears to have been in charge of the household. She is the main character in the famous story of Jesus’ visit when Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, listening to him teach, while Martha works away in the kitchen. Martha gets exasperated that she’s the only one attending to the household work and complains to Jesus.
“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me,” Martha says. He comforts her and encourages patience, saying, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her” (Lk 10:38-42).
Later, we see how well Martha learned this lesson from Jesus—that the only important thing is to cling to the Lord. When her brother, Lazarus died, she placed her trust in Jesus.
When Jesus arrived at Lazarus’ tomb, he told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world” (John 11).
Martha is depicted in these stained glass windows from the Basilica, where she holds a cooking pot, and offers hospitality to Jesus. She is patron saint of cooks and kitchen staff, and her relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Martha, patron saint of cooks, and the hospitable friend of Jesus who was busy about many things, pray for us!