YOU ARE ANXIOUS AND WORRIED ABOUT MANY THINGS
Gal 1,13-24; Ps 138; Lk 10,38-42
9 OCTOBER
Marta is somehow a figure of humanity, all agitated in the construction of its tower. Even Marta wants to build a tower that reaches the heart of Christ. Instead, Jesus reveals her that it is not her false tower that must reach the heart of the Master. Instead it is the true tower of the Master that must reach his heart. Whoever wants to go up and remain in the heart of the Master, must always climb through the ladder that Jesus gives.
The whole world spoke the same language, using the same words. While men were migrating in the east, they came upon a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there. They said to one another, “Come, let us mould bricks and harden them with fire.” They used bricks for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and so make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered all over the earth.” Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the men had built. Then the Lordsaid: “If now, while they are one people, all speaking the same language, they have started to do this, nothing will later stop them from doing whatever they presume to do. Let us then go down and there confuse their language, so that one will not understand what another says.” Thus the Lord scattered them from there all over the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the speech of all the world. It was from that place that he scattered them all over the earth (Gen 11,1-9).
Marta is a figure of man according to the description given to us by the prophet Micah. It is about a man who wants to think himself what is and what is not pleasing to the Lord. His God replies him that only listening to his voice is pleasing to him. If the Lord is in dispute with his people it is precisely because it no longer listens to his voice. This very high truth is also revealed by the Psalm. Life is from obedience to the Law.
“Hear, O My people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you; I am God, your God. “I do not reprove you for your sacrifices, And your burnt offerings are continually before Me. “I shall take no young bull out of your house Nor male goats out of your folds. “For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills. “I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine. “If I were hungry I would not tell you, For the world is Mine, and all it contains. “Shall I eat the flesh of bulls Or drink the blood of male goats? “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving And pay your vows to the Most High; Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honour Me.” But to the wicked God says, “What right have you to tell of My statutes And to take My covenant in your mouth? “For you hate discipline, And you cast My words behind you. “When you see a thief, you are pleased with him, And you associate with adulterers. “You let your mouth loose in evil And your tongue frames deceit. “You sit and speak against your brother; You slander your own mother’s son. “These things you have done and I kept silence; You thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes. “Now consider this, you who forget God, Or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver. “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honours Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God” (Ps 50 (49) 7-23).
Mary is the image of the true disciple of Lord Jesus. True discipleship is listening, obedience and sequel. If listening is lacking, following is lacking, obedience is lacking. To listen, it is necessary to sit at the feet of Jesus and let him speak to the heart.
As they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary (who) sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
Mother of God, Angels and Saints, make us of most pure obedience to every Word of Jesus.