July 21, 2019: Homily for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C - We Can Be Both Mary and Martha.

Readings: Gen 18:1-10; Col 1:24-28; Lk 10:38-42

  The first and Gospel readings of today resonate with me in many ways. When I was young we always had visitors coming to see my dad. Among them were priests, nuns, and senior seminarians (those studying for the priesthood). Whenever priests would visit, my day would whisper something to my mom before he settled down with the guests for a chat. My mom would in turn direct us, the children, on what to do. Some of us could be seen pursing a roaster and before long, one would be killed and prepared for a meal, while my elder would be seen on his bike and soon he would return with drinks to entertain the guests. We had no refrigerator when I was growing up. This would soon be followed with a delicious and palatable meal from my mom’s kitchen. I often wondered if food cooked faster on my mom’s kitchen than others. My mom was a great cook, and I believed that her cooking was the best. It was only during the meal that my mom would participate in the discussion while we, the children would play outside waiting for the remains of the food. That is how it was then. The situation was not different in the time of Abraham and Jesus. Hospitality to strangers was not questioned, it was a given.   

Last Sunday we reflected on the story of the good Samaritan. The parable was prompted by a question by the teacher of the law to Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” The lawyer’s answer was “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself”. Jesus commended him and told him, “Do this and you will live”. Since the parable of the good Samaritan emphasizes love of neighbor, today’s readings, highlight the love of “the Lord, your God”. God must always be first in our lives and we owe God adoration, loyalty and worship. Prayer in all its ramifications is a must for all Christians and nothing should take the place of giving God his due, our time and our all.

In the first reading we see Abraham showing hospitality to strangers. He offered them a place to rest, and a meal to provide them strength to continue their journey. His kindness and hospitality did not go unrewarded. His wife was promised a child, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son” (Gen. 18:10). Abraham was taken into confidence by God who revealed to him that he was on his way to Sodom and Gomorrah to destroy it due to their iniquities. This afforded Abraham an opportunity to intercede for the land and on behalf of Lot, his nephew. The Lord comes to us in many ways every day as a beggar on the street corner, a stranger in need of shelter, immigrants running away from starvation and oppressive and repressive government, the rich in need of a friend, or the lonely in need of consolation and love. Like Abraham, Mary and Martha let us reach out to them, for in helping them, we help God himself. “So long as you did it for the least of my people, you did it for me” (Mt. 25:40). When we give God our time in prayer and respond in generosity and hospitality to Him, God takes us into confidence and provides for us beyond our wildest dreams. Spending time in prayer is not a waste of time but a time well spent and freed to do things well with his power, strength, blessing and integrity. Prayer, according to St. Therese of Lisieux, “Is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy”. Do not ever say you are too busy to pray.

Jesus is not condemning Martha for taking care of his physical needs, but Martha’s attitude in doing so. She allowed herself to be anxious, worried and distracted by her serving to the point of feeling that what she did was far more important than Mary’s. “Stop worrying, then, over questions like, ‘What are we to eat, or what are we to drink, or what are we to wear’? The unbelievers are always running after these things. Your heavenly Father knows all that you need. Seek first his kingship over you, his way of holiness, and all these things will be given you besides. Enough, then of worrying about tomorrow. Let tomorrow take care of itself. Today has troubles enough of its own” (Mt. 6:31-34). Christ is telling us that we can be both Martha and Mary without sacrificing one for the other. Lydia made the right combination, responding like both Mary and Martha. First, she “listened” to the Gospel message preached by Paul and then offered hospitality to him and his companions (Acts 16:14-15).

To be truly hospitable, we must have clarity of action, and that clarity can only come through prayer. Prayer enables us to attune to the spirit of God, to contemplate his blessings and to recognize that in giving to those in need, be it our time, our talent or treasure, we reciprocate God’s hospitality and kindness to us. In practicing hospitality, we recognize that we are only stewards of what we have been gifted. Praying like Mary, who sat at the feet of Jesus listening to him, helps us to recognize first in our hearts, the Jesus that we must serve in the poor. Yes, we are urged to be both Mary and Martha for it is in praying like Mary and serving like Martha that our life will truly be complete.

The Gospel reading of today also reminds us, according to John Rose, that “Substitution of our daily duties and responsibilities with religious activities is not commendable. A father of family, who instead of working and earning for the family, spends needless time in the church, is to be discouraged”. The same with a mother who spends all her time in church praying to the detriment of her family should be reprimanded. Prayer, religious and social activities are good and highly encouraged on their own but the family and the good of the children should not be sacrificed on their altars. There is always time for Mary and also time for Martha. We can be both and we should strive at being both. Prayer and work must be combined in a healthy way to strike a balance in our lives. We must learn to discharge our social responsibility with equanimity and at same time we must make the time to sit at the feet of Jesus so as to learn from him how to be meek and gentle of heart. May Christ the good teacher, teach us to find peace and balance in our lives without anxiety, worries and distraction now and always. Amen.