St. Joseph of the Lakes

It has happened to me too often that when I have gone on a pastoral visit expecting that I will get a chance to visit with a person I will be side swiped by that person’s need to provide hospitality for me. I will be grandly greeted and ushered into a sitting room of some sort while the host (who I had come to visit) will rush off to another room to prepare some sort ofrefreshment. In the best-case scenario this means that I will be sitting alone in the room for a short while as the refreshments are being prepared; in my worst experiences I am left alone for up to an hour while the host has disappeared.  When I have attempted to get up to join the host in the kitchen they politely, but firmly, lead me out of that room and back into the “more comfortable” room (usually because it has the cushier chairs). There I sit and wonder how to proceed with the visit. 

At that point I realize that I am at a crossroad of expectations with my host. I come expecting to put little to no burden on my host, but I want to enjoy their presence and have them enjoy me. They receive me with the esteem they hold for me and they want to honor me with their hospitality. This usually means that they will go out of their way to make sure there are delicious treats and drinks for me to enjoy while I am with them. Sometimes I catch myself quickly enough to relax and receive their hospitality and sometimes I get so confused I receive their gifts rather poorly.

In today’s Gospel Jesus comes to Mary and Martha’s house as the TEACHER and his visit generates the same mixed results I have experienced. Martha greets him with all the esteem that she holds for him, preparing great hospitality in his honor.  Mary recognizes who he is and she sits at his feet, as a student should, to receive the teaching he will impart. Mary gives Jesus a greater recognition by her position than does Martha by her hospitality. Both women are recognizing that someone important has entered their house, but one allows the person to take the precedence while the other feels that her actions will communicate her feelings better. Her complaint to Jesus about her sister’s actions sum up her confused intentions. Martha’s need to express her esteem for Jesus by her actions clouded the purity of that esteem as expressed by Mary’s sitting at Jesus’ feet.