WE read in the Gospel that Martha, into whose house Our Lord had
entered, was busy and troubled about many things in her anxiety to
serve Him, whilst her sister Mary remained at His feet, listening to
His words. Martha was concerned about Our Lord's bodily comfort, but
Mary, laying aside every other thought, nourished her soul with the
sacred instructions of her Divine Master. A soul, recollected
interiorly before God, is sometimes so sweetly attentive to the
goodness of her Beloved as not even to be aware of its attentiveness,
so simply and gently is it exercised. Such souls are like those who
navigate rivers the waters of which flow on so calmly that they
neither see nor feel any motion. This delightful repose of the soul is
called by St. Teresa 'The Prayer of Quiet.'
Martha, moved by a slight sentiment of envy (which is an almost
universal vice, affecting even devout souls), complained thus to Our
Lord: 'Master, hast Thou no care that my sister hath left me alone to
serve? Speak to her, therefore, that she help me.' Our Lord, Who is
Infinite Goodness, would not reprehend her seriously, although He knew
the imperfection of her sentiments, but He called her by name, gently
and affectionately (for the whole Gospel is love), and said to her:
'Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things; but
one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part, which shall
not be taken from her!'--_Martha, Martha, sollicita es et turbaris
erga plurima; porro unum est necessarium. Maria optimam partem elegit,
quae non auferetur ab ea._
Whilst Martha was thus busy serving Our Divine Saviour, Mary had but
one thought--to remain with Him and hear His words. This was also the
one thought of Our Blessed Lady, the Most Holy Virgin. Observe her at
Bethlehem, where all her efforts to find a lodging were vain; she says
not a word, utters no complaint, but retires into a stable and places
the newborn Infant in a manger! After a few days the Magi come to
adore Him, and she receives in silence the praises addressed to her.
She flies into Egypt, but shows no sign of grief; she returns to Judea
without any manifestation of joy. On Calvary, at the feet of her
Divine Son, she opens not her mouth, but listens to His words, for to
hear them is all her desire. Indifferent to all things else, 'happen
what will,' says she, 'whether He console me or afflict me, I am
equally contented, provided I be near Him and possess Him.'
Thus does a soul abandoned to the Will of God remain in His arms, like
a child on the bosom of his mother. When she places him on the ground
he walks, and when she takes him again in her arms he allows himself
to be carried, and is in no way troubled to know whither he is taken.
Thus the soul cultivates tranquillity of heart, and advances
continually in union with the Divine Goodness.
The exercise of union with God can be practised by means of short but
frequent aspirations of the soul to God, such as: 'Ah, Jesus, who will
give me to be but one spirit with Thee? I renounce all creatures and
desire Thee alone, for this is the one thing needful. Ah! plunge my
soul into the ocean of Thy Goodness, from whence it proceeds, and make
me, O Lord, wholly Thine. Draw me, and I will run after Thy
attractions, casting myself into Thy paternal arms, and never again
withdrawing myself from them.'
A soul immersed in God dies not. How could it die if immersed in Him
Who is life? It lives, then, but not in itself. As the planets do not
shine in the presence of the sun, but the sun shines in them, so does
it live, not, indeed, a natural life, but the life of Jesus Christ,
Who lives in it.
In imitation of the Blessed Virgin we must make it our whole study to
unite ourselves to Our Lord by advancing in perfection. Let us not,
however, forget that our best means for attaining to this is to remain
tranquil, and place all our confidence in Him Who alone can give
increase to that which we have sown and planted. Our Lord desires from
us a peaceful solicitude, which will lead us to obey those who direct
us and walk with all fidelity in the paths they point out. We should
abandon ourselves in all things to His Paternal care, and maintain
peace of soul as far as possible, because Our Lord reposes in tranquil
and peaceful hearts. When the waters of a lake are not agitated by the
wind, the firmament with its stars is so vividly represented therein
that, looking down into the deep, we can see its beauty as perfectly
as if we were looking up to the heavens. So also when our souls are
tranquil and undisturbed by superfluous cares or distractions, we are
then well prepared to receive within us the image of Our Lord. But if
the soul be disquieted, darkened, and agitated by the various tempests
of the passions, and allows itself to be guided by them, and not by
reason, which renders us like to God, it cannot reflect the beautiful
image of Jesus Christ Crucified and His most excellent virtues, nor
can He rest in the soul. We must abandon the thought of ourselves to
Divine Providence, for anxiety of mind and the desire to know if we
advance in virtue is not pleasing to God, and serves only to satisfy
self-love, which is a great busybody that seeks to have a hand in
everything. One work well done with peace of mind is more meritorious
than many works performed with agitation and anxiety.