Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi
I’ve often found that during those times when I am the busiest I have a tendency to falter in my relationship with God. I find myself spending less time in prayer and putting less effort into considering what God would have me do, think, and will. Nevertheless, having nothing to do is also not very conducive to my spiritual life. Being not busy enough can result in boredom and lack of purpose. What is best seems to be a balance between being too busy and not busy enough.
The gospel passage for today speaks to the need for this kind of balance in our lives and the need for taking time to know God. At various times in history the passage has been interpreted in such a way that Mary is identified with the contemplative life and Martha with the active life. On this reading, the passage is supposed to show the superiority of religious over that of lay people or the superiority of life in a cloistered monastic order as opposed to an order with a more evangelical charism.
But it seems to me that such interpretations are incorrect. Instead the point of the story is to show all Christians where our priorities should lie, and to remind us that we must take time to meditate upon Jesus and his life in order to get to know him better. It is often very easy for us modern Christians to forget to take time for prayer. Our days are often so busy that we do not allow God to work in us. Or perhaps we try to do things on our own without God’s help. In the passage for today Martha represents the mistake of prioritizing our own efforts and work over prayer and putting our trust in God. We end up trying to control our lives without letting God take control. In the passage it is Mary not Martha who takes time to get to know Jesus. I’m reminded here of God’s command in Exodus that his people should keep the Sabbath. Jesus is reminding his followers that the purpose of our lives is not to work. Work is only a means to an end, and if our efforts lead us in a direction counter to that end, then our efforts are in vain.
Paul expresses a similar theme in Galatians. He is combating the idea that in order to be true Christians gentile, male converts to Christianity need to be circumcised. In the end, Paul teaches, it is not first and foremost an external code of behavior that constitutes following Jesus Christ. Rather true Christianity is an internal conversion of the heart that is consequently manifested in external behavior.
Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Let us strive to emulate St. Francis by seeking a balance in our lives between the contemplative and the practical: loving God above all things but loving our neighbor as ourselves though concrete acts of charity.
- Joel Schickel