Jesus does not need servants, but friends.

Listening to the Spirit

Lord,
be merciful to your people.
Fill us with your gifts
and make us always eager to serve you
in faith, hope, and love.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
– Amen.

(Lauds' concluding prayer)

Listening to the Word

Luke 10:38-42

Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered 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.”

Reflection

This Sunday’s Gospel is the continuation of the parable of the Good Samaritan we read last Sunday. The last words Jesus addressed to the Doctor of the Law were “Go and do likewise.” Today’s Gospel begins with the sentence “As they continued their journey, he entered a village…” We know that the continuation of his journey refers to the determination to go to Jerusalem, that is to fulfill the project of life of the Father. Jesus listens to the Word of the Father and does His will. Jerusalem is the “place” of the death and resurrection of Jesus. On this journey, Jesus enters the house of two friends – Martha and Mary - and teaches them the Word of the Father. Both women are very dear to Jesus. Their hospitality manifests a profound friendship and the freedom of heart of Jesus to stay with them. This familiarity and affection can be seen in the fact that Jesus mentioned the name of Martha twice: “Martha, Martha…”. Besides, Martha calls Jesus “Lord” manifesting her closeness to Jesus. She is a strong friend. Martha does hear the word of Jesus, but “she is burdened with much serving”. We can recognize in these words the parable of the sower where “the worries of the world…choke the word, and it bears no fruit.” (Mk. 4: 18-19). For Jesus, her friend, she is “anxious and troubled about many things”. Mary, instead, “sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching”. She is the one who receives the Word “on rich soil…hears the word and accepts it and bears fruit.” (Mk. 4:20).

For Luke, to “do” the Word, we are called to listen to the Word. Luke is concerned about the lack of listening to the Word of the Lord in his community, troubled with many things. It is also our concern: we are involved in many commitments but without cultivating the attitude of Mary. The invitation of Jesus is not to exclude the necessary service of Martha, but to set our heart on what is essential: “only one thing is necessary”. For Jesus, her friend, Mary made the right choice: “she has chosen the good part”.

The question is not on the serving but on “being troubled about many things”. Mary is the image of the Christian community, the true disciple. Jesus does recognize the serving of Martha, but he invites her to rediscover “the good part”, the “engine”, the “soul” of her “serving” and “many things”. Mary can do the serving of the house at every moment, but Martha remained behind in the listening of the Word.

We are also like Martha when we do many things, but without falling in love with the presence of the Lord in our life, without his peace, without “wasting” time with Him, in his company, without opening our heart to him.

Mary experienced how the Lord touched her heart. We are called to take our time with the Lord and for the Lord in the service to others.

The ideal Christian community for Luke is the one that keeps the “actions” of the Good Samaritan and the “engine” of Mary always together. Jesus does not need servants, but friends. He does not need people doing things for Him, but friends that allow Him “to do things”, to allow Him to be our Lord.