Transformation

16^th Sunday Ordinary Time – Cycle C

Genesis 18: 1-10a; 

Colassians 1: 24-28; 

Luke 10: 38-42

Martha gets kind of a bad reputation from this Gospel passage. There is a tendency to believe that Jesus is chastising her while praising Mary. But listen again to the words: “Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” Jesus is not scolding Martha. He is simply pointing out that there is another way – a different possibility.

This encounter with Christ opened Martha's eyes. She began to see things differently. She began to change her life and the lives of those around her. Scripture doesn't specifically tell us, but I get the feeling that this is not the first time that Jesus has visited their home. Jesus was familiar to Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus. Scripture only tells us of two occasions, but Martha is so vastly changed in the second, that it is reasonable to assume that there were other visits as well. By the time that Jesus encountered her again in the scriptures, Martha's faith and love for Jesus have blossomed.

Do you recall that second meeting? It occurs in John's Gospel, Chapter 11. Lazarus has died and Jesus goes to pay his respects to the family. Martha hears that the Lord is coming and goes out to meet him. She says “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now, I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”

Jesus replies, “I am the resurrection and the life: whoever believes in me … will live. … Do you believe this?” And Martha answers “Yes Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

Wow! Talk about a transformation! Martha has gone from a woman who is too busy to have time for Jesus, to a person who leaves her home and her guests behind to go and speak with the Master. She is only the second person is the Gospels to verbally proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God before his death and resurrection. It's easy to understand why her name is included in the church litany’s throughout the ages. But how did she come to this glorious testament of faith?

In today's gospel, Martha abides by the societal rules of her day. She welcomes Jesus into her home and serves Him and the disciples by cooking and cleaning, but she is frustrated. She wants more. She may not even know what it is exactly that she wants and she lashes out at Mary. She senses that deeper relationship Mary seems to have with Jesus. She doesn't dare to ask for it. Perhaps because she is unsure about how to get it. Perhaps because she doesn't feel that she deserves it. Perhaps because she fears the consequences of such a bold action. We don't really know.

But Jesus' reaction to her and Mary today – recognizing Martha's frustration, yet not scolding her; accepting her for the person she is right now without demanding that she become someone or something else; and finally placing before her the suggestion that perhaps Mary's priority to sit at the feet of Jesus was the better part.

I believe that that moment with Christ had a small but profound impact on Martha. She began to seek a different sort of relationship with Him. She had a shift in her priorities. She took a chance that perhaps she could venture out from the expectations society placed upon her, that she could step out of the kitchen, set aside the chores, and be present with Christ.

I admire Martha. Of the two sisters, I identify more closely with her. For Mary, spirituality and a desire to be closer to God seems so easy. For me, as with Martha, that desire requires some effort. I can't tell you how many times I've looked back at the end of the day and realized that I hadn't made any effort to be closer to God. I hadn't prayed. I hadn't helped the homeless man I passed on the street. I had been short-tempered with the telemarketer who called at the wrong time. My mind had been too preoccupied with work and other day-to-day distractions to focus, even for a moment, on God.

Martha allowed her relationship with Jesus to change her. Do we? We encounter Christ daily in our lives – through the scriptures, through the Eucharist and through our interactions with others. Do we allow these moments to influence us – to change us – or do we remain unaware of God's intimate presence within our lives?

I have a friend I see from time to time. She has told me on many occasions that she'd like to lose some weight. She has great intentions, but quickly becomes overwhelmed at the thought of making so many life-style changes – what she eats, when she eats, why she eats, how to schedule time to exercise, and what to do when a celebration comes along featuring lots of fattening food? So, one day, she decided to take one small step towards a healthier choice. She decided to give up soft drinks and drink only water. She didn't change her eating habits or add exercise to the routine because she felt she'd have a better chance at sticking to one small change. And it worked! After a few short weeks there was a noticeable weight loss. With her added confidence, she felt ready to gradually add more changes.

I wonder if we don't feel overwhelmed by what we perceive as an impossible task, to deepen our relationship with Christ as Martha did. Perhaps we don't know where to begin. But I have a thought. After receiving communion today, in that few minutes of silent prayer before the closing rite, perhaps we can commit to something that will deepen or strengthen our relationship with God. It doesn't need to be a major life-altering commitment – just something small and easy to accomplish. Give it some time and re-evaluate. The results may shock you.

We have a model from today's Gospel to get us started. We are surrounded by fellow Christians who are all striving to follow in the footsteps of Christ. Do we see them? Do we recognize Christ within them? Can we allow our encounters with the Christ in our midst to transform us?

I'm going to make the effort this week. Would you like to join me?

Deacon Darryl J. Diemer

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 16, 2016

Painting: Johannes Vremeer, Christ in the House of Martha and Mary (1654-1655)