Reflections by Horizons Fellow Sophia Van Horn ('21)

St. Martha is stalking me and I’m not too upset about it.

Over the past two months, she has made her presence known and has showed me that she is not going to leave my side for a while. One week in September, I got caught up in all of the “doing” and “serving”. I had a particularly long day in the kitchen, cooking meals for my best friend Cora’s birthday. She deserves only the best, so the day called for a big breakfast and her dinner of choice—spaghetti and meatballs. I’ll spare you the details, but imagine 80 handmade meatballs, two Dutch ovens of sauce which simmer for 3 hours. It seemed like enough food to feed an army. I felt like Martha. I was rushing between class and the kitchen, wanting to serve only the best for Cora. I was so carried away with the tasks of the homemaking that I neglected to sit down with her, to be with her. Does this sound familiar? 

If you read the gospel passage Luke 10:38-42, you can see some stark differences between sisters Mary and Martha. They are on two sides of a spectrum, Mary is the contemplative sister and Martha is the active sister. Jesus is visiting the women and Mary sits at the feet of Jesus, gazing into eyes of Christ, completely enamored by his presence. Martha, on the other hand, sees a need to serve. She wants to pretty up the house, make Jesus the best meal, and cater to His every need. She so famously says, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me!” And what does Christ do? He rebukes her. He tells her, “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.”

This seems like a slap in the face to Martha, who has tried to do it all. She has tried to please Christ, but all he is calling her to do is to sit and rest with Him. Perhaps we too fall into that trap. Perhaps we see everything that should get done and put it upon ourselves to complete the tasks right then and there. Christ calls us to slow down.

For all the Martha-like people who are reading this, have hope! We cannot all be like Mary and that is a good thing. We should rejoice in our Martha-ness. By our service, we leave space for Mary to adore Christ. We do the things to give an opportunity to Marys to be Marys. Notice, also how Martha was “burdened”. Christ calls us all to give our heavy burdens to him, to take on his yoke. Matthew 11:30 reads, “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Our burdens can unite us closer to Christ, who has compassion for us and our sufferings.

Still not convinced? Turn to John 11:17-37. Lazarus has just died, and the sisters are mourning. Mary has locked herself in the house, but where is Martha? She is running through the streets to find Christ. She does not even know if he has entered into the city walls and yet, she is running to Him. Martha runs to the feet of Christ and perhaps we can too. Let’s run to Him, and let us gaze into His eyes.

Check out all the times I can recall the story of Mary and Martha coming up in my life:

1.     I called Father Joseph-Anthony Kress, O.P. who is the chaplain to Catholic Hoos to have him preach to me about my Martha-ness. He spoke truth into my heart.

2.     I went to daily Mass and noticed a lack of ushers, so I asked Fr. Joseph-Anthony if I should help. He said, “I’m going to let you sit and be a Mary for a hot second.”

3.     The Gospel passage the following Tuesday was the story of Mary and Martha.

4.     I was in discipleship with some of my girls, and Meaghan said that the Gospel from Tuesday really hit her. See above, it was Mary and Martha. So, we talked about Mary and Martha.

5.     One of the girls in my Bible study brought up how she has felt like a Martha.

6.     One of our FOCUS missionaries led some of the ladies in an Ignatian Meditation on Mary and Martha.

7.     I took a brief retreat and the room I stayed in was called the St. Martha Room.