Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 29, 2025
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.”
Wow, can I ever relate! I have an easy time seeing myself in this moment of Luke’s Gospel. I am Martha.
Leading up to when we have company, there’s the usual busyness of trying to make sure everything is just so to receive our guests. Make sure the toys are picked up, the floor is vacuumed, fresh sheets are on the beds, the kitchen is clean and tidy, and a number of other tasks that perhaps fall into the somewhat comical category of “this house should look like no one lives here.” Unfortunately, I have a tendency to carry this busyness into the time while our guests are with us, trying to clear away the evidence that we spent time in the space before sitting down to visit with them.
When my wife notices that I’m doing more than is necessary at the moment, she’s taken to referencing this exact reading by gently saying, “Less Martha, more Mary.” A note in the study Bible I have says, “Martha was preoccupied with hospitality, while Mary gave her full attention to the guest himself. Her quiet devotion displayed greater reverence for Jesus than Martha’s anxious toil.”
I’m getting better at being more still when we have company, and this passage helps me to remember that our guests did not come to our home because they were looking for a sterile environment to spend time in or to be waited on hand and foot. They took time out of their busy schedules and traveled from a distance to spend time with us, to reminisce about old memories, and to make new ones. Let us strive to choose the better part, to honor the gift of their presence with our own.
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 and trust in his healing power. Never abandon us in times of suffering and loss. Bring us your comfort and assurance. Like Mary, 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 the 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 11:25-27).
Martha is depicted in these stained glass windows inside the Basilica, where she holds a cooking pot and offers hospitality to Jesus. She is the 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 with many things, pray for us!
