Sep 29, 2025 Written by 

Martha and Mary... Empty minutes?

Understanding action in the contemplation’ spirit

(Lk 10:38-42)

 

Bethany is an ideal community, coordinated by a woman [Martha: ‘lady’].

The loveable Face of the Lord shines through in the contexts of (only) brothers and sisters, where difficult choices can be shared.

But even in the hearts where Jesus is understood, there are two different ways of welcoming the Son of God.

Some lack something, «absorbed for great service» (v.40); others make the choice «good».

«Good part» (v.42) is personal Freedom, which no intimidation or haste of others can take away and oppress.

In fact, Mary «even» (v.39) was sitting at Jesus' feet and listening.

The position is significant, because it was that of the disciple towards the teacher.

Mary does not have an abstruse intimist attitude, but surprising and gravely transgressive [appropriate with God].

In fact, the guest was welcomed by men alone; the women had to be relegated to the side and not appear.

At the time, no spiritual guide would have accept a woman among his disciples.

But here the Gospel speaks of receiving Jesus and his Word: of that accepting that qualifies the things “at the bottom of the list”, rather than “at the top”.

 

«Martha was distracted around for the much ‘service’...» (v.40).

‘Serving’ is not the same as doing Communion. This overwhelms her, and she becomes herself «above» Jesus (v.40 Greek text).

She remains in anxiety, in upset; divided in the heart (v.41), attracted between opposing choices.

Caught up in the tension, she does not understand that every authentic relationship is born from Listening.

She does not grasp the essential: the ‘little important’ that makes us feel good is not to be neglected - rather, it’s the foundation of our being and of the joy of living.

Instead of the «many things» (v.41) we need «One only» (v.42): to be in one’s Centre and to host the Voice of dim character that becomes full Kingdom within.

By taking care first of the beginnings and not immediately of the terms, as overflowing with fullness poured out in simplicity; then each one has great capacities for growth and transformation.

 

Then comes a further, clinking Call to heart [«Martha, Martha...»: v.41].

Appeal of the profound being, who ceaselessly retrieve from the neglect of the essential.

Vocation in the Name allows us to stop; for meeting ourselves and others, our deep states and motivations; in order to understand and enjoy what has already been done or is being done, without dehumanizing ahead of time.

All this so that we can reappropriate the breath of the soul, of its character - and do not lose our minds, always setting a great confusion that takes our breath away, and makes everyone angry.

Even a better “performance” will come to surprise us, because a different Perception will transmit patience, firm nerves, lucidity to wait for  ripe times; determination even in afflictions; possibility of rediscovering innate abilities.

Lord’s Message will communicate the Judgment of the Crucified One, and opportune rhythm.

His Teaching will give balance, good disposition, and faculty to overcome the oppositions of an ambiguous world that is agitated to perpetuate itself - and does not give up the grip.

The instinct of the Logos inside and the provident reality will build a binary of our own, even through losses and scars.

Indeed, when our busy minutes will become empty and the slow hours become enchanting, we will even improve tightness and efficiency.

Made wise and incisive according to our Seed, we will not accuse Jesus of having been [us] «left alone to serve» (v.40).

 

We won’t spin in vain anymore, and our gestures will become valuable: clear.

 

 

[Tuesday 27.th wk. in O.T.  October 7, 2025]

342 Last modified on Tuesday, 07 October 2025 11:59
don Giuseppe Nespeca

Giuseppe Nespeca è architetto e sacerdote. Cultore della Sacra scrittura è autore della raccolta "Due Fuochi due Vie - Religione e Fede, Vangeli e Tao"; coautore del libro "Dialogo e Solstizio".

Christianity cannot be, cannot be exempt from the cross; the Christian life cannot even suppose itself without the strong and great weight of duty [Pope Paul VI]
Il Cristianesimo non può essere, non può essere esonerato dalla croce; la vita cristiana non può nemmeno supporsi senza il peso forte e grande del dovere [Papa Paolo VI]
The horizon of friendship to which Jesus introduces us is the whole of humanity [Pope Benedict]
L’orizzonte dell’amicizia in cui Gesù ci introduce è l’umanità intera [Papa Benedetto]
However, the equality brought by justice is limited to the realm of objective and extrinsic goods, while love and mercy bring it about that people meet one another in that value which is man himself, with the dignity that is proper to him (Dives in Misericordia n.14)
L'eguaglianza introdotta mediante la giustizia si limita però all’ambito dei beni oggettivi ed estrinseci, mentre l'amore e la misericordia fanno si che gli uomini s'incontrino tra loro in quel valore che è l'uomo stesso, con la dignità che gli è propria (Dives in Misericordia n.14)
The Church invites believers to regard the mystery of death not as the "last word" of human destiny but rather as a passage to eternal life (Pope John Paul II)
La Chiesa invita i credenti a guardare al mistero della morte non come all'ultima parola sulla sorte umana, ma come al passaggio verso la vita eterna (Papa Giovanni Paolo II)
The saints: they are our precursors, they are our brothers, they are our friends, they are our examples, they are our lawyers. Let us honour them, let us invoke them and try to imitate them a little (Pope Paul VI)
I santi: sono i precursori nostri, sono i fratelli, sono gli amici, sono gli esempi, sono gli avvocati nostri. Onoriamoli, invochiamoli e cerchiamo di imitarli un po’ (Papa Paolo VI)
Man rightly fears falling victim to an oppression that will deprive him of his interior freedom, of the possibility of expressing the truth of which he is convinced, of the faith that he professes, of the ability to obey the voice of conscience that tells him the right path to follow [Dives in Misericordia, n.11]
L'uomo ha giustamente paura di restar vittima di una oppressione che lo privi della libertà interiore, della possibilità di esternare la verità di cui è convinto, della fede che professa, della facoltà di obbedire alla voce della coscienza che gli indica la retta via da seguire [Dives in Misericordia, n.11]
We find ourselves, so to speak, roped to Jesus Christ together with him on the ascent towards God's heights (Pope Benedict)
Ci troviamo, per così dire, in una cordata con Gesù Cristo – insieme con Lui nella salita verso le altezze di Dio (Papa Benedetto)
Church is a «sign». That is, those who looks at it with a clear eye, those who observes it, those who studies it realise that it represents a fact, a singular phenomenon; they see that it has a «meaning» (Pope Paul VI)
La Chiesa è un «segno». Cioè chi la guarda con occhio limpido, chi la osserva, chi la studia si accorge ch’essa rappresenta un fatto, un fenomeno singolare; vede ch’essa ha un «significato» (Papa Paolo VI)
Let us look at them together, not only because they are always placed next to each other in the lists of the Twelve (cf. Mt 10: 3, 4; Mk 3: 18; Lk 6: 15; Acts 1: 13), but also because there is very little information about them, apart from the fact that the New Testament Canon preserves one Letter attributed to Jude Thaddaeus [Pope Benedict]

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