“But there’s only one thing you need. Mary has chosen what is better, and it is not to be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42)

Who can doubt that it would be a great honor to have Jesus come to our home for dinner, and to prepare a meal for him. And yet in the beautiful story of Martha and Mary Jesus teaches us that it is a far more exalted honor simply to sit at his feet and to repose with Him in prayerful adoration. This is a lesson of significant importance to our lives.

The story of Martha and Mary is found in Luke’s Gospel. Martha was busy preparing a meal for Jesus while her sister Mary was sitting at the Lord’s feet listening to his teaching (Luke 10:39). Martha complained to Jesus that Mary wasn’t helping her out, and Jesus replied:

“Martha, Martha! You worry and fuss about a lot of things. But there’s only one thing you need. Mary has chosen what is better, and it is not to be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).

What busy lives we lead. Prayer seems passive and unproductive – almost unnecessary. We become prey to a “practical naturalism” which values activity over the interior life. Moreover, we whittle away precious hours that could have been spent in prayer, meditation and adoration hypnotized by “petty, peripheral things” like video games, shopping channels, endless hours of sports and a whole dazzling array of web-sites that convince young girls that the only meaningful activity in life is to become a super-model!

And yet Jesus – who came into the world to enlighten all human beings (John 1:9)  –  tells us that Mary has chosen what is far better and far more necessary! Indeed, without prayer, without repose with God, we simply cannot live a spiritual life (see CCC 2744 ). Saint Alphonsus Ligouri, a prolific writer and Doctor of the Church, indicates to us over and over again that the great means of salvation is prayer. Regarding his book on the necessity of prayer, the great Saint and doctor of the Church says:

“I have publishes several spiritual works…but I do not think I have written a more useful work … in which I speak of prayer as a necessary and certain means of obtaining salvation. If it were in my power I would distribute a copy to every Catholic in the world in order to show him the absolute necessity of prayer for salvation” (edited from A Short treatise on Prayer, p. 5).

My dear friend, to neglect prayer is like cutting off your oxygen supply for spiritual life (to paraphrase a quote from Saint Teresa of Avila). Prayer is the most important activity of your life. Learn to spend quality time with…God. Sit at His feet; concentrate your soul on God; listen attentively; converse with your God as your very best friend. There is only one thing you need, closeness to God in prayer, so don’t let it be taken away from you.

Tom Mulcahy, M.A.

Reference: This note is influenced by Father Grou’s essay, “Martha and Mary,” in his famous Manual for Interior Souls. It is Father Grou who says “concentrate your soul on God” and “listen attentively.” The quote at the top of this note is a song from the singer, Dion, who had a tremendous conversion back to his Catholic faith. The book by Saint Alphonsus, A Short Treatise on Prayer, is highly valuable and should be read. The phrase, “petty, peripheral things,” was used by Dietrich Von Hildebrand.

Image: Christ in the House of Martha and Mary by Johannes Vermeer, 1656, Public Domain, U.S.A.

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