Vigils Reading – SS Martha, Mary, & Lazarus

THE HAPPINESS OF

MARTHA AND MARY

From a sermon by St Aelred of Rievaulx2

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Jesus entered a certain fortress, and a certain woman named Martha

received him into her house. And she had a sister named Mary. You have heard

in the Gospel about the great happiness of the two women. Truly, brothers, great

was the happiness of Martha, who welcomed such a guest, who waited upon

him, who was completely engaged with serving him. Great was the happiness of

Mary, who recognized the excellence of her guest, who listened to his wisdom

and tasted his sweetness. For in this way the evangelist recounts the fact that

our Lord Jesus Christ entered a fortress, where a certain woman who was called

Martha welcomed him into her house and waited upon him. She had a certain

sister, who was called Mary, who, as soon as Jesus entered, immediately

hastened to his feet and sat there and listened to his sweet words. She was

attentive upon the words of the Lord to such an extent, that she cared nothing

about what might be done in the house, what anyone was saying, or indeed even

how hard her sister was working.”

…

If therefore, brothers, our soul according to what we have said, becomes

a fortress, it is fitting that two women live in it: one who sits at the feet of Jesus

and listens to his words, the other who waits upon Jesus and feeds him.

Consider this, brothers: if Mary were alone in this house, there would be no one

to feed the Lord; if Martha were alone, there would be no one to take delight in

the discourses and presence of the Lord. Therefore…Martha signifies that

action by which a person labors for Christ, and Mary signifies that rest by which

a person ceases from bodily activities and takes delight in the sweetness of God,

either through reading, prayer, or contemplation. Therefore, brothers, as long

as Christ is poor and goes about afoot on earth, and is hungry and thirsty, and

is tempted, it is necessary that both of these women dwell in one house, that

both of their actions be in one soul.

As long as you or I or anyone else is on earth, he himself is present in the

world, if we are his members. Whenever those who are his members are hungry,

thirsty, and tempted, then Christ will be hungry, thirsty, and tempted. For this

reason, Christ himself will say on the day of judgment: “Whenever you, did it to

one of the least of my brothers or sisters, you did it to me”. Therefore, brothers,

in this miserable and burdensome life, it is necessary that Martha be in our

house, that is, that our soul be busy with bodily activities. As long as we must

eat and drink, then we have to labor. As long as we are tempted by carnal

pleasures, it is necessary for us to tame the flesh by vigils, fasts, and bodily labor.

This part is Martha’s.

Mary also should be in our soul, for she represents activity of spirit. We

should not always give ourselves to bodily exercises but occasionally should rest

and see how delightful, how sweet, is the Lord; we should sit at the feet of Jesus

and listen to his word. In no way ought you to neglect Mary because of Martha,

nor again Martha because of Mary. If you neglect Martha who will feed Jesus?

If you neglect Mary, what will it benefit you that Jesus entered your house, since

you taste nothing of his sweetness?

2 CSQ 32 : 45, 48.5