My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
“And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you
are worried and troubled about many things. But ONE THING
IS NEEDED, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will
not be taken away from her” [Luke 10:41-42].
Saint Theophylact writes, “Hospitality, which Martha displays, is a great virtue which ought not to be scorned; but it is even greater to give attention to spiritual words. By means of the first, the body is nourished; by means of the second, THE SOUL IS BROUGHT TO LIFE. The Lord says, “I have not come, Martha, to fill the belly with all sorts of foods, but instead I have come TO BRING BENEFIT TO SOULS. ” See the Lord’s way of thought: He did not say anything to Martha until she had first given Him a reason to rebuke her. Only she TRIED TO DRAW HER SISTER AWAY FROM LISTENING, did the Lord use the occasion to rebuke her. To practice hospitality is honorable, until that point is reached when IT CAUSES TURMOIL AND DRAWS US AWAY FROM THE THINGS THAT ARE MORE IMPORTANT. When hospitality begins to hinder us from doing the things that are more important, THEN LISTENING TO DIVINE WORDS IS PREFERABLE. To say it more precisely, it is not hospitality which the Lord forbids, but extravagance and upset, that is, DISTRACTIONS AND TURMOIL. Simple hospitality He praises, “Why, Martha,” He asks, “art thou full of cares and troubled about many things?” meaning, “Why are you distracted and disturbed? We need only to eat one kind of food, whatever is at hand, not a great variety.” But some have understood “one thing is needful” to refer, not to food, BUT TO THE IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING TO THE TEACHING. By what He says to Martha, the Lord is teaching the Apostles that when they enter into anyone’s house, they should NOT seek an elaborate welcome, but should instead be content with a simple reception, desiring nothing more than that their hosts pay close attention to the teaching. Understand that Martha, REPRESENTS ACTIVE VIRTUE, while Mary REPRESENTS DIVINE VISION. Action entails distractions and disturbances, but DIVINE VISION, HAVING BECOME THE RULER OF THE PASSION (for Maria means MISTRESS, she who rules), DEVOTES ITSELF ENTIRELY TO THE CONTEMPLATION OF THE DIVINE WORDS AND JUDGMENTS. Gives heed also to thee words of the Gospel: Mary “sat at Jesus’ feet and LISTENED TO His words. ” The feet are understood AS SYMBOLS OF ACTIVE VIRTUE, REPRESENTING MOVEMENT AND STEP-BY-STEP PROGRESSION. And sitting is a symbol of STEADFASTNESS AND CONSTANCY. Therefore, whoever sits at the feet of Jesus, that is, WHOEVER STEADFASTLY FOLLOWS AND IMITATES JESUS, IS ESTABLISHED IN ALL ACTIVE VIRTUE. Then such a man (person) will also come TO THE LISTENING OF THE DIVINE WORDS, THAT IS, HE WILL ATTAIN TO DIVINE VISION. Mary first sat, and by doing this she was then able to listen to Jesus’ words. Therefore, you also, if you have the strength, ASCEND to the rank of Mary: become the mistress of your passions, and ATTAIN TO DIVINE VISION. But if you do not have the strength, be Martha, and devote yourself to active virtue, and by this means welcome Christ. See also the words, “Mary HATH CHOSEN THAT GOOD PART WHICH SHALL NOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER.” Activity has a part that will be taken away from it, namely, the cares and distractions that accompany it. For a man (person) PROGRESSES AND ATTAINS TO DIVINE VISION, HE IS FREED FROM DISTRACTIONS AND TROUBLES, AND SO IT CAN BE SAID THAT SOMETHING IS TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM. But he who IS ENGAGED IN DIVINE VISION SHALL NEVER BE DEPRIVED OF “THAT GOOD PART,” THE VISION OF GOD. What else is there to attain, once he has reached this pinnacle, that is, ONCE HE SEES GOD, WHICH MEANS THAT HE IS DEIFIED? (THEOSIS) HE WHO IS FOUND WORTHY TO SEE GOD, BECOMES GOD. For something is comprehended only by that which is like unto to it.”
Saint Theophylact gives us the Orthodox Christian interpretation of this biblical passage accurately and with a greater spiritual meaning. Hardly anyone can disagree that a person is easily distracted by the cares of life. Our Lord Jesus Christ made an example of Martha to teach us that by worrying about too many things we distance ourselves from Him. Saint Paisios explains this point further: “When a little child is playing and is all absorbed with his toys, he is not aware that his father may be next to him caressing him. If he interrupts his play a bit, then he will become aware of his father’s caresses. Similarly, when we are preoccupied with too many activities and are anxiously concerned about them, when we worry too much about worldly matters, we cannot become aware of God’s love God gives, but we do not sense it. Be careful not to waste your precious energy or redundant worries, which will turn to dust one day.”
Each and every one of us has his/her priorities in life but it varies from person to person. But what is our criteria on what is most important to us? How do we judge between one priority and another? And where do we place God among our many priorities? or is God somehow neglected or forgotten altogether? For the authentic and true Christian, God is and should always be our top priority. The Lord said: “He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37). Our love of God must be genuine and total. Martha was worried about things which were not as important as listening to the Divine words of the Master Christ. Jesus reminds us, “seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these shall be added to you. Therefore DO NOT WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW, FOR TOMORROW WILL WORRY ABOUT IS OWN THINGS” [Matthew 6:33-34].
What does Jesus Christ mean to you personally? Do you ever ponder on the meaning and purpose of life? Jesus said, “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” [Matthew 7:8]. This is a commandment from the holy Gospel–to quest for the “ONE THING NEEDFUL.” Then a distinction between the means and the aims of the Christian life is made. There is no life without Christ period. Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ is the only one Who can give meaning and purpose in our lives. He is the only one that can fill the void in our soul. According to Saint Seraphim of Sarov, “The aim of our Christian life is the ACQUISITION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD.” So, no matter how strong our external ascesis (labor or struggle) is, what matters in our lives is the inner state of our soul. The question which must be asked of ourselves is what is its spiritual condition? Is God the Holy Spirit present there or is He absent? How do we invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in our souls? It is necessary for the soul to be pure, filled with love, and be open to His grace. To practice the Faith by living the faith daily in obedience to God’s will and commandments.
Treat others the way you would want to be treated–then your soul will be filled with joy and you will find inner peace. Be compassionate, loving, forgiving, give of yourself, learn how to put your faith into action and strive to do works of charity to help those who are treated as though they are a refuge of society. We ought to be humble and have a sense of our unworthiness. The centurion in the holy Bible [Matthew 8:8] says to Jesus, “Lord, I am not worthy that Thou should come under my roof.” This statement of his is frequently quoted in the liturgical texts of the Orthodox Church. It is an ideal expression of our profound UNWORTHINESS BEFORE CHRIST. ALL must come to understand that we can never merit God’s blessings, grace, mercy, or salvation! It is God’s gift/s to us!
What binds us A to Christ and to one another is AGAPE! At the Divine Liturgy the confession of faith in the Triune God, which is to follow, is of no value, and our further presence in the Divine Liturgy is useless, if we are empty of love, and if we shall not decide to give up every thought of revenge and to reconcile with our enemies [Matthew 5:23-24]. In this reconciliation, which springs from love, the Deacon or Priest exhorts us, so that to confess worthily our faith in the Triune God and to obtain our sins’ forgiveness, which sprang from the Lord’s Cross and Grave. Therefore, the Priest, blessing the faithful intones: Peace be to all. The Choir responds, And to thy spirit. “Let us love one another, that with one mind we may confess: The Father, the Son and Holy Spirit, Trinity, One in essence and undivided.”
Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ has shown us the way and therefore as Christians we must follow it faithfully. A soul without grace is like an empty shell. Keep your soul pure and bright and seek meekness which is the mother of love, the foundation of discernment and the forerunner of all humility. Jesus says, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” [Matthew 11:29]. Jesus’ “yoke” is submission to the Kingdom of God. A yoke may be the symbol of hardship, burdens, and responsibilities. Although it may feel heavy due to our sins, Christ’s yoke is light. In Him the soul is refreshed and sees that the Lord is gracious. Remember always that “ONE THING IS NEEDED”, THE ONLY TRUE LORD, GOD, AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
A PRAYER OF VENERABLE AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO
To the Holy Spirit
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts
may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may
be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what
is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that
is holy.
Grant me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I may always
be holy. Amen.
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“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 