THE conduct of Martha and Mary give us another touching subject for
our meditation. These two sisters well represent to us Our Lady. Like
Martha the Blessed Virgin Mary received her Son Our Lord into her
house, and into her most chaste womb, when He came into this world,
and with incomparable care she always served Him whilst He lived on
earth, in reward of which He exalted her in heaven to an unparalleled
glory. Like Mary, she listened to His words in uninterrupted silence,
and occupied herself only in loving Him. This glorious Virgin
exercised admirably in the course of her life the offices of both of
these sisters. But as regards the office of Martha, with what care and
attention did she not serve Our Lord when an Infant! What diligence
did she employ in avoiding the anger of Herod, and all the dangers
with which His life was threatened!
Take notice that Our Lord reprehended Martha because she was disturbed
and troubled, not because she was careful. Our Lady, like Martha, took
great care to serve our Divine Master well--but her care was devoid of
all disquiet and anxious trouble. The Saints in heaven are zealous for
the glory of God, but are not disquieted. The Angels are careful in
all that regards our salvation, and God Himself has care of His
creatures, but always in peace and undisturbed calm. To us, miserable
creatures, however, this is difficult. Some become suddenly disturbed
because they cannot do what they desire; others wish to console and
visit the sick, but if they meet with some hindrance they are
immediately troubled; others will have a great affection for mental
prayer, and although this relates only to God, yet even here human
nature enters, and they will be disturbed and troubled if they are
constrained to occupy themselves in some other employment.
Now would Martha have been so much troubled if she had had no other
end in view than to please Our Lord? No, certainly; because one only
kind of food, well prepared, was sufficient for His nourishment, and,
moreover, because she saw that the whole pleasure of her Divine Master
was to be listened to, as was done by her sister Mary. But Martha
mingled a little self-esteem with her desire to provide all that was
necessary for our Divine Master; and this moved her to wish that her
hospitality, in receiving those who honoured her with their visits,
should be recognised. The good lady believed that by this external
service she would become a great servant of God, and surpass others;
and through love for her sister she wished that she also should be
solicitous to serve the Beloved Master, and thus, as she thought,
acquire more merit. But our Divine Redeemer was more pleased with the
practice of Mary, into whose heart He poured forth, through His divine
words, graces surpassing all conception. This was the truth He wished
also to inculcate, when He said, that those alone were blessed who
should have listened to His word and practised it.
All that anxious restlessness and eager desire to do something for Our
Lord, which some devout persons look upon as real virtue, is then a
manifest error, reproved by our Divine Master, when He said: _Porro
unum est necessarium_--'But one thing is necessary.'
You may ask, in reply, But how are we to prevent being uneasy when we
are under an obligation of practising virtue? This solicitude is
certainly not blamable, provided it be not overanxious and troubled.
Invoke frequently the one beautiful Dove of the Heavenly Spouse, that
she may truly obtain for you the heart of a dove, and that you may not
only be a dove in your flight towards heaven, by prayer, but also a
dove in your nest, and with all those who surround you. Unite the
office of Mary with that of Martha: diligently fulfil the duties of
your state. Often cast yourself at the feet of Jesus, and say to Him
from your heart: O my Divine Master, whether I go or stay, I am all
Thine and Thou art all mine. Thou art my only Spouse, and all that I
am going to do shall be for Thee.
As the birds have their nests in which to hide themselves when
needful, so our heart should select and take possession of some spot
every day, either on Calvary or in the Sacred Wounds of Our Lord, or
near Him, whither it may retire on every occasion to defend itself in
temptations and recreate itself after the many exterior affairs of the
day. Happy the soul that can truly say to Our Lord: You are my house
of refuge, my secure home; my roof, in time of rain, and my
refreshment under burning heats.
A remedy, however, against so many anxious cares and troubles is to
copy the practice of Mary, because it was praised by Our Lord Himself,
Who called it the best and the one thing necessary. Now, this one
thing necessary is nothing else than the exercise of Divine Love,
which, as it contains in itself the perfection of all other virtues,
produces their acts in due time and place, according to circumstances.
In one word, then: _Possess holy Charity, and no virtue will be
wanting to you, because all virtues are comprised in Charity._