29th July ~ St Martha

In active works the soul is often distracted or entirely drawn off, whereas in heavenly contemplation the heart is wholly taken up in God, and united to Him by worship and love.

ST MARTHA, VIRGIN (FIRST CENTURY)

Martha was sister to Mary (who is usually identified with Magdalen) and Lazarus, and lived with them at Bethany, a small town two miles distant from Jerusalem, a little beyond Mount Olivet. Our blessed Redeemer had made His residence usually in Galilee, till in the third year of His public ministry He preached frequently in Judaea, during which interval he frequented the house of these three disciples, who perhaps had removed from Galilee to be nearer Him. St John particularly tells us that “Jesus loved Martha and her sister Mary and Lazarus”. Martha seems to have been the eldest, and to have had the chief care and direction of the household, for, when Jesus visited, St Luke tells us that Martha showed great solicitude to entertain and serve Him, to be herself busy in preparing everything for their guest. Mary sat all the while at our Saviour’s feet, feeding her soul with heavenly doctrine.

With so great love did Martha wait on our Redeemer that, as we cannot doubt, she thought that if the whole world were occupied in attending to so great a guest, all would be too little. She wished that all men would employ their hands, feet and hearts, all their faculties and senses, with their whole strength, in serving their Creator who was made for us our brother. Therefore she asked Him to bid her sister Mary help her. Our Lord was indeed well pleased with the affection and devotion wherewith Martha waited on Him; yet He commended more the quiet repose with which Mary attended only to that which is of the greatest importance, the attendance of the soul on God. “Martha, Martha,” said He, “thou art careful and troubled about many things; but one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part. . . .” In active works the soul is often distracted or entirely drawn off, whereas in heavenly contemplation the heart is wholly taken up in God, and united to Him by worship and love. This is the novitiate of Heaven, where it is the uninterrupted occupation of the blessed. In this sense Christ so highly commends the choice of Mary, affirming that her happy employment would never be taken from her. He added, “One thing is necessary”, that is, “Eternal salvation is our only concern”.

From Butler’s Lives of the Saints