Sista, Sista

Gosh I loved that show.

Did you all hear the gospel reading on Sunday, it was the story of Mary & Martha.  This reading always frustrates me because I am such a Martha, and I feel sorry that she seems to be so misunderstood. 

 If Jesus, Our Lord and Savior, was coming over to your house for a meal, wouldn't you go absolutely nuts to clean up and prepare food for Him?  Wouldn't you want to try your hardest to serve Him perfectly?  You would blow your grocery budget in order to purchase the finest foods and create a to-do list to make sure all areas of your home were neat and tidy, I mean, Jesus might have to use your bathroom!!

You finally get the house in order and Jesus arrives.  Now it's time to cook dinner!  You say hello and quickly excuse yourself to show the Son of God just how much you love and care about Him by creating a delicious masterpiece.  You really wish you knew where your sister was, who was supposed to be helping out in the kitchen (she already slacked off in the housecleaning department) when you hear her talking to Jesus in the next room.  You peek in and see her sitting on her lazy behind without nary a thought for how dinner will just magically appear.  The nerve!  Must be nice, you think to yourself, as you march in there and say:

"Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” 

And Jesus responds:

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Wait a minute...WHAT?!?!?!  What does He mean?  Mary chose the easy part, while I'm stuck doing the hard part.  I wish I could just sit around and listen to Our Lord and ask him questions and adore Him, but there's too much to do.  And if I don't do it, obviously nobody else will.

But what if Martha had decided to sit next to Mary and soak up Jesus' wisdom and teachings, then when He was done, they both got up and made dinner together?  They both would've chosen the best part, and everything still would've gotten accomplished.  Why does Martha take it all on herself to do, do, do, and constantly be a busy bee all the time?  Why does she do it with a poor attitude?

Why do I do the same?

Why is it so hard for me to sit still and pray and reflect on God's teachings?  Why do I always buy into the lie that there's never enough time for prayer if I want to get everything else accomplished?  That's the devil's trap.  

Back when I was a graduate student, I used to go to wake up at 5:30 am, go to daily 6:00 Mass, work out at the gym, shower and get to my accounting job by 8.  Then I would work my 8 hours, drive home, cook dinner and head to class from 6-9 pm.  After class, I would head home and study and do it all again the next day.  It was a crazy busy time, and on the days I would think I should skip Mass in order to have more time to get everything done, those were the most hurried and scattered days of all.  It was like going to Mass actually refocused and re-energized my day which gave me more time to get everything else accomplished.

The same is true with prayer.  When I willingly give God my time, He rewards me by having a much more balanced and good day.  It doesn't matter what we accomplish each day if we don't have a relationship with Him.  

Jesus was right (duh!).  Mary did choose the good part, and Martha and I need to hear that lesson and learn that when it's time to serve, we should do it with a joyful heart, and when it's our relationship that needs a little tending to, that we slow down and focus on that.