Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Commentary:
We encounter Abraham after he has already begotten Ishmael through Hagar, Sarah’s slave. We see him now encounter God in the form of a traveler with two messengers (this is revealed later). After extending them hospitality, God tells Abraham that Sarah, his wife will bear him a son within a year. Because Sarah has been barren and is now past child brearing years, this prediction and ultimate event are miraculous.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Psalm 15 is a Jewish form of examination of conscience. In this selection the poem asks first about lying, then committing violence against his neighbor, and finally about usury, making money by lending to the poor instead of helping without charge as Mosaic Law demands.
"As the community at Colossae was not personally known to Paul, he here invests his teaching with greater authority by presenting a brief sketch of his apostolic ministry and sufferings as they reflect those of Christ on behalf of the Church (NAB)".
In this encounter with Martha and Mary in St. Luke’s Gospel we see two distinct messages. First, the importance of the role of women and Jesus’ attitude toward them. Second we see the importance of listening to the word of God "Mary has chosen the better part".
Reflection:
Scripture today presents us with and interesting dilemma. In the first reading we hear of the importance of hospitality in Jewish Law. We see Abraham rush to meet the travelers who are not identified immediately yet we discover later are actually Yahweh and two of his messengers (we could reflect upon this fact alone based on the old adage "When a guest comes, Christ comes."). It is clear from the first reading that the act of not just welcoming strangers but feeding them and seeing to their comfort was important.
That importance is not diminished in the Gospel from Luke. Jesus comes to the house of Martha and Mary and, like Abraham, Mary immediately begins seeing to his needs, preparing food and serving him. Martha’s sister Mary, however, takes an unprecedented place reserved for the Lord’s disciples, at the master’s feet. Martha complains to Jesus that her sister is not participating in the Mosaic Law’s requirement that hospitality be shown to strangers.
We note that Jesus does not say that the law requiring hospitality is not necessary. Rather he tells Martha that her sister Mary has chosen the better of the two roles. Mary has chosen the listen at the master’s feet while Martha continues for follow the older tradition of hospitality. This tableau does not end there. For the audience of the time, the role Mary assumed was reserved for men. In not only telling the reader it was acceptable for Mary to ignore her sisters demand for help with the serving, but saying that she had chosen a better part, the equality of women in the faith community was emphatically displayed.
For us the messages in scripture guide our actions. We, as disciples of Christ understand the importance of listening to the words of Jesus, placing that action above simply doing what society expects. We hear and understand that within our faith community and indeed in our dealings with all others, there is no place for bigotry. There is not place for attitudes that one group, be it gender, race or age demographic, is more deserving of special treatment than another. From top to bottom our view must be that all are equal in eyes of God.
Living up to these standards is not easy. Even St. Martha struggled with her role of service. We are called to follow the New Covenant and as such must constantly strive to overcome our human biases. Today we pray for the strength to do all that is requred.
Pax
2. The picture used today is Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, by Tintoretto 1570-75
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