At the Home of Martha and Mary
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Before we hear this again, let’s dig a bit deeper and see what is going on here.
The primary purpose of prayer is not to get God to do what we think God ought to do but to be profoundly formed.
Towards this end, we need both liturgical and contemplative forms of prayer.
AKA: Talking with Jesus and just sitting at the feet of Jesus.
Two thousand years ago, Mary of Bethany discovered that sitting with Jesus is the one thing that is necessary if we want to form our soul in the way of health and peace.
When Jesus came to Jerusalem, he often stayed in the nearby village of Bethany as a guest of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary.
They had a large enough home to accommodate Jesus and his disciples.
On this occasion, when Jesus was staying at their home, he was teaching the disciples while Martha was kept busy – the text says she was distracted - in serving the guests.
Breaking the social norms of her day, Mary did not assister her sister in serving the Men but sat at Jesus’ feet as one of the disciples.
When Martha, in her irritation, complained to Jesus and asked him to tell her sister to stop sitting and start doing, Jesus gently admonished Martha for being anxious and troubled about so many things. Jesus commended Mary for having chosen the one thing that really is necessary.
Martha, the busy sister, is very well intended, but her noble intentions aren’t enough to prevent her from being anxious.
Peace of mind is not an inherited reward for strict adherence to duty, but it is a state that is cultivated through contemplative practices centred on Jesus.
Isaiah said, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on you.”
In liturgical and personal prayer, we use words to become adequately formed and to present our petitions.
But in contemplative prayer, we sit silently, acknowledging the presence of Christ.
After we listen to this passage again, position yourself at the feet of Jesus.
Just sit with him. Be in his presence.
I will pray a prayer. After I pray that prayer, simply sits with Jesus.
For Jesus, himself is salvation, peace and healing.



Christ, I acknowledge you.
Christ above me, very God of very God.
Christ below me, incarnate of the earth.
Christ before me when seen.
Christ behind me when unseen.
Christ at my right hand in my strength
Christ on my left in my weakness.
Christ all around me filling all things everywhere with himself.
Christ within me, formed by faith.


Music: Salt Of The Sound - Abide With Me
Meditations Volume 5

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