'Blessed the one who sits in his cell with all devotion, as Mary sat at the Lord's feet, and hastens, like Martha, to receive him, the Lord and Saviour.' St. Ephrem of Syria
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
I have been pondering on what to write about on my blog. I've been praying hard about what to write about and the Good Lord gave me this inspiration. I decided to write about one of my favorite Bible story in the Bible that I can relate to so well.. I am writing about Mary and Martha for you all.
I am a Martha type of person. I obsess over the housework,my spiritual life and always thriving to be perfect for my family and God. I forget sometimes to sit down and patiently wait on the Lord and be quiet in his present. I am constantly saying my prayers, devoting myself to my job and housework.. I forget to sit down and smell the roses sometimes.
One of my new year resolutions is to be silent more, and not talk too much and pay more attention to silence in my spiritual life.
Jesus was coming. Martha took off to go find Jesus.Mary had a purpose. The Bible does not say she was crying, weeping or anxious or being useless. She was waiting on Jesus Our Lord.
We can assume that Mary was preparing her heart through prayer. Whereas Martha was preparing the house and anxiously preparing for Our Lord. She forgot to be silent and wait on Jesus. Martha was Impatient and Anxious. She couldn't rely on herself or trust Jesus enough to wait on him. We need to remember to be more like Mary. She trusted Our Lord so much, that she waited on him and prayed silently for him..
Our Beloved Jesus Christ spoke to Martha but Martha wasn't paying Our Lord one bit of attention. She was focused on what she had to say to Him and running her mouth. Martha talked at Our Lord not to Him and after she had her say, she left Him. The sad thing was that Martha missed what Jesus was saying to her and the mystery behind his words to her. Do we often do the same ourselves in our lives and spiritual life? I often do this myself in my spiritual life. I often rant to God about my problems, and forget to be silent and listen to him. I forget to be quiet in my ordinary life and pay attention to what people are really saying to me.
Mary then went to see Jesus - at the right time. She went when He called her, once He has come or had come. She went without delay or haste. She went when she was properly prepared because she had been praying and waiting on Our Beloved Lord. Mary was sitting and waiting on Jesus, preparing our hearts and responding appropriately when He calls us to him.
Both Mary and Martha were in love with Our Beloved Merciful Savior. But, their journey were not the same. Mary was meditating and quietly waiting on Our Beloved because she had gotten quiet and alone with him. Mary met Jesus in the same place as she did when Jesus was in her home at His feet!
On the other hand, Martha had not spent the time in God’s presence. Martha, just as in Luke 10 was overcome by her feelings. Her faith was not at a high level.
This story tells us we should meditate on Our Lord and listen to him. He could be calling us right now and we aren't listening to him properly. He is seeking us in everybody and everything. Our Lord is a hidden mystery in which we should seek 24/7 in our daily lives.
Are you more like Mary or Martha?
