Please read the passage before the commentary.
“Who is my neighbor?” was the question asked last week. “Who is my disciple” may be the question answered this week.
The one who poured on oil and wine and took the victim to the inn for convalescing was neighbor to the one who had fallen upon robbers. Likewise, the victim who welcomed the Samaritan’s help was also neighbor to the good Samaritan.
The disciple is one who welcomes the Lord into one’s life by sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to him. She also is disciple who welcomes the Lord into her home and offers food and drink. The Benedictines have a motto, “Pray and work”. They do not want to say that their work is prayer or that their prayer is work, as if one or the other does duty for both. It is that their work is part of their prayer and that their prayer is part of their work. They must do both, pray and work. Today, on this occasion, God had called Mary to sit and listen, and Martha to cook and serve. Someone must entertain Jesus while meals are prepared, and someone must prepare the meal while the other engages in conversation.
So, too, among us. At Mass some are listening while others are doing other things, such as preparing the altar, ushering, serving, or presiding. We are all disciples, fulfilling different roles for the benefit of the whole. No disciple is more important or less important than the rest.
The Greek text calls Mary’s part the “good part”. The Latin translates it as the “best part”. English translates it as “better part”. Perhaps we should stick with the Greek and say that both Martha and Mary have “good” parts.God chose me for the ordained priesthood. God chose marriage for my sisters. Each calling fits the one who receives it.