Jul 29 2009
Today’s Feast - Saints Mary and Martha of Bethany
Today we remember a unique group of people in the gospel accounts, Jesus’ friends in Bethany. We know that Jesus traveled with many disciples and we also know that this group often fell into bickering and the other petty squabbles which we all fall into when living in close quarters under emotional duress. Life with and for Jesus was hard.
Is the reading selected from the gospel of Luke the beginning of this friendship? We are introduced to Martha and Mary and also shown a bit of their personalities. Martha bustles about preparing a space of hospitality and Mary sits at the feet of Jesus and listens. Though the story might indicate Jesus’ preference for Mary as the contemplative the greater view of this story is the recognition that at certain times we are all called to work to make space and hospitality while at other times we need to cease our hurry and simply be in the presence of Christ.
In John’s gospel we are told that Mary tenderly washes Jesus’ feet with her tears and her hair while pouring an expensive perfume on Jesus an action that scandalizes his disciples. At the death of and raising of Lazarus, Martha demonstrates supreme faith in Jesus announcing her trust that he will restore her beloved brother to life and calls Jesus “the Son of God who has come into the world.” Mary is hurt that Jesus did not arrive and yet Mary’s tears stir Jesus’ heart deeply leading to the most profound display of emotions we find in the gospels by Jesus as well as the shortest sentence in the Bible “Jesus wept.”
The town of Bethany was obviously an oasis of rest and friendship for Jesus. Who are the friends and where are the places that restore your soul? Are you making the time in your life to sit and be in the presence of Christ? What are you doing to make a space of hospitality and safety for the tired and weary in the world around you?
Readings for todays feast:
Collect of the Day
O God, heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ enjoyed rest and refreshment in the home of Mary and Martha of Bethany: Give us the will to love you, open our hearts to hear you, and strengthen our hands to serve you in others for his sake; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Romans 12:9-13
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Luke 10:38-42
Now as Jesus and his disciples 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.”
