Vigils Reading

MARY AND MARTHA

From a sermon by St Bernard of Clairvaux3

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Jesus entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. Why is it, my brethren, that we read that only one of the two sisters welcomed him, and she was the one who seems to have been less important? After all, the one whom Martha received affirms that Mary chose the better part. Martha appears to have been the elder, and action has a greater claim on the beginnings of salvation than contemplation does. Christ praises Mary, but he is received by Martha. Jacob loves Rachel, but Leah is substituted unawares. When he complains about the trickery, he is told that it is not the custom for the younger to be given in marriage first.

If you picture this house as made of clay, it will be easy to acknowledge that Martha should receive him in it rather than Mary. When the apostle says glorify and bear God in your body, it is said to Martha, not to Mary. The first uses her body as an instrument, whereas to the other it is a hindrance. A perishable body, it is said, weighs down the soul, and its frame of clay burdens the soul, which is full of thoughts. It is not the same for the one who works, is it? Martha, then, receives the Lord into her home on earth, but Mary thinks rather how she may be received by him in a house not made with hands but an eternal one in heaven. Yet perhaps even she seems to have received the Lord, but in spirit…

You notice that each received the Word, the one in the flesh, the other in the voice. But Martha was busy about much serving, and she stood and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me alone to serve?” Is it possible, do you think,

for murmuring to be heard in the house where Christ is received? Happy the house, and blessed the community where Martha complains about Mary! On the contrary, it is altogether both shameful and out of bounds for Mary to be jealous of Martha. Where do you read of Mary lodging the accusation, “My sister has left me alone to be still”? God forbid, and I repeat, God forbid that the person who is empty for God should aspire to the turbulent life of the brothers holding responsibilities in the monastery. Let Martha always seem to herself insufficient and hardly qualified, and let her wish that the work she is entrusted with be confided to others instead!

But Jesus replies to her, “Martha, Martha, you are troubled and anxious about many things.” See Mary’s privilege, that in every conflict she has an advocate. The Pharisee is indignant, the sister complains, and even the disciples murmur, but Mary remains silent, and Christ speaks for her. Mary, he says, has chosen for herself the better part, which shall not be taken away from her. For that is the one thing necessary, that one thing that the prophet so constantly asked for: one thing have I asked for from the Lord; this I seek…

Truly this is the better part that shall not be taken away; this is the best intention that will not change, whatever you call her to… Rejoice and give thanks, Mary, because you have chosen the part. Blessed are the eyes that see what you see, and the ears that are worthy to hear what you hear