In this Gospel, Jesus visited his friends Martha and Mary, who were sisters. Jesus was close to Martha and Mary’s family because it was their brother Lazarus whom Jesus had risen from the dead. In return, they treated Jesus as if He was a part of their family. Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him teach while Martha was busy doing all the work. Martha became upset because Mary wasn’t helping her. She was getting stressed and started to complain to Jesus like she was saying “Mary isn’t even doing anything! Why aren’t you asking Mary to help me?” So we can imagine Jesus replying to Martha like this: “Martha, why are you worrying and upset about everything. Only one thing is important. Let Mary be, she has made her choice, don’t take that away from her.”

What was Mary’s choice? And what was it that could not be taken away from her?

Gathered here today, we are like Mary, in the presence of Jesus, listening to his Word. But what are we like outside of this Chapel, outside of this school even? Who are you like at home? Personally, I see myself as a Martha quite often, always busying myself with things, forgetting that even if they're good, even if I think they’re the right thing to do, they're not what's important in the end. This may be probably the case with most of us, but this isn’t necessarily bad. It is not bad to be practical and efficient like Martha, for we are still serving God. However the practical actions shouldn’t get in the way of the more important things in life as it will just lead us towards anxiety and worry which is what Jesus doesn’t want—notice he mentioned the fact that Martha was worrying and upset. He did not say that Martha was doing all the work and Mary wasn’t.

I understand this may be confusing and hard to understand as you would think that showing hospitality or being welcoming is better but if you look at it would you  rather spend time with God or spend time for God? Which is more valuable? Which do you think would be more rewarding—knowing Jesus as a distant character that you read about in the Bible or Jesus who you know personally and who ends up being a genuine good friend? At first, having Jesus as a friend who you just want to hang out with may be unimaginable, but it’s not. Being here gathered together in prayer is like being Mary.

We are listening and being attentive. We are challenged to do this and to be listening and attentive not just in this Chapel or in Church but at lunchtime, at home with our parents and siblings, and also with people we may not like or who are different to us. Allowing Jesus to be part of our lives and even the centre of it is not as hard if we envision ourselves as Mary. 

We are human and we make mistakes just like Martha did. Sometimes we don’t know what is best—especially now, today, with distractions all around us and the distractions we create. But it is as simple as asking God for help as he is our helper, always there for us, never leaving us or rejecting us. This Gospel story is reminding us that you can do all the Christian things and deeds in the world, but if your heart is not in the right place, wanting to be by the side of Jesus, spending time with Him and learning from Him in the Bible and through personal prayer, then the things are just things, they don't really mean anything. The practical and the spiritual go hand in hand, they should be balanced.

In the dictionary, balance is defined as an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady, as well as a situation in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.

In this Gospel:

Mary chose to be prayerful. Martha chose to serve in action. Mary chose to be quiet and still. Martha chose to be helpful.

Mary chose to sit beside her friend. Martha chose to take care of things.

There is a little bit of Martha and Mary in all of us. Jesus said to Martha “Mary has made her choice, don’t take it away from her.” That choice is ours. God gives us the gift of our freedom to spread peace, to choose love in action, and to have faith. We don’t need to be afraid or feel bad for believing and having faith in God. It doesn’t matter what others may think. Nothing can take that away from you.

Caroline A - Year 9 Student