Sunday Reflection with Canon Robin Gibbons: 20th July 2025

Christ in the House of Martha and Mary by Johannes (Jan) Vermeer - Google Art Project

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the story of Martha and Mary looking after Jesus, this Sundays gospel, why is it that Martha has such a negative press and Mary's attitude seen as an ideal way to behave with Christ? I find it difficult to believe that the apparent admonition from Jesus to Martha can be seen in any way as a hurtful negative comment, there are just too many other things which need to be added in to the equation, the deep love and friendship of Jesus with the three family members, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus being the chief element in the story.

How then do we understand or even attempt to grapple with this comment?

"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 10:41,42)

Far too often those who have sought to interpret this saying have split the sisters, putting Martha in opposition to Mary, and using her talent for household management and organisation as a sign of activism, as against the contemplative dimension of Mary's listening attentiveness. But I don't think it washes, it's a false and uncomfortable dichotomy, Jesus does not tell us to spend our lives in attentive contemplation, that is part but not all of what we are about. Rather he asks us to seek the Kingdom, and in our lives make the love God and our neighbour as ourselves the key. In this view we find that-both sisters are fulfilling that commandment in their different ways, so why the downer on Martha?

One has to take into account that the parable of the Good Samaritan has been told before this account, and it can be assumed that this household of hospitality at Bethany exemplifies the witness and power of open hearted people reaching beyond the religious and cultural confines of their time. The sibling household is unconventional, as is the free manner in which Jesus can approach the two sisters. Martha seems to be the key member holding things together. and in doing so proves she is a remarkable woman. In this story we must leave out the comparison with Mary, for that 'better part' of being totally focussed on Jesus is also Martha's as can be seen in other depictions of her in the gospels. Let us not forget she shows her understanding of who Jesus is when she remonstrates with him over Lazarus' death and, then acclaims him in a fourfold profession of faith, just like Peter's own confession of faith.

Herein lies the clue, the 'better part' of Mary is simply Mary's calling, it is like the calling of John, a gentler intuitive friendship with Christ. But this, as in the case of Peter, is not the same type of relationship with Jesus. This way isn't for Martha to follow, instead in the emergence of her own character we see a strong direct personality who faces up to Jesus and is capable, like Peter, of receiving directional correction, but also of engaged dialogue. I empathise with Martha as a kind of patron saint of those of us who are worriers in life and once I understand Jesus knows her very well, those words today take on a very different meaning. That double use of her name is as always in scripture, a powerful sign of the Divine One calling, here Jesus is perhaps letting slip the veil for Martha, and in his attempt to calm the storm of sibling annoyance, he reveals the still small voice of who he really is, and afterwards Martha begins to understand. We can see this in a kind of resolution in John's gospel, when six days before Passover, Martha serves dinner in Jesus's honour. Lazarus reclines at the table with Jesus. Mary opens a jar of nard it and pours it on Jesus's feet then wiping them with her hair (John 12:2-3). There is no hostility, no underlying tension, each of the siblings relates to Jesus as they truly are.

What can we discover of ourselves in this story? Certainly not the elaborate spiritual device that later ages laid on it, of the contemplative life being superior to the active. No! For Jesus there is only one way of life, a relationship with him, and lest we forget that comes in a variety of ways, all good, all important. If Martha does anything for us in this story it is to reassure us that the healing Jesus wants to share our burdens, and points out that we must not judge others, each one of us has the 'better part'.

The better part is when we open ourselves deeply to Lord by loving God, our neighbour as ourselves. But it also becomes what Colossians holds up before us, and this I think is for me what Mary's journey truly represents, the change we are called to make with Chris-so that this following quote may be as true of us as it is of Martha , Mary and Lazarus : '…it is Christ in you, the hope for glory. It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. For this I labour and struggle, in accord with the exercise of his power working within me'. (Col I: 27b-29) May this be so for us, Amen!

Lectio

Benedict XVI
Angelus Address July 18 2010

Christ's words are quite clear: there is no contempt for active life, nor even less for generous hospitality; rather, a distinct reminder of the fact that the only really necessary thing is something else: listening to the word of the Lord; and the Lord is there at that moment, present in the Person of Jesus! All the rest will pass away and will be taken from us but the word of God is eternal and gives meaning to our daily actions.

Dear friends, as I said, this Gospel passage is more than ever in tune with the vacation period, because it recalls the fact that the human person must indeed work and be involved in domestic and professional occupations, but first and foremost needs God, who is the inner light of Love and Truth. Without love, even the most important activities lose their value and give no joy. Without a profound meaning, all our activities are reduced to sterile and unorganised activism. And who, if not Jesus Christ, gives us Love and Truth? Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us learn to help each other!

St John Chrysostom on Hospitality

Lift up and stretch out your hands, not to heaven but to the poor; for if you stretch out your hands to the poor, you have reached the summit of heaven. But if you lift up your hands in prayer without sharing with the poor, it is worth nothing… Every family should have a room where Christ is welcomed in the person of the hungry and thirsty stranger. The poor are a greater temple than the sanctuary; this altar the poor, you can raise up anywhere, on any street, and offer the liturgy at any hour.