There are some who use this story to lambaste Martha and praise Mary telling us to learn from Martha’s mistake and Mary’s example.
I think that is overly simplistic.
Both Martha and Mary were doing good things. The situation, however, called for Mary’s response. There will always be cleaning up to do, you will not always be in the immediate presence of God.
The importance of Situational Awareness (a term used frequently in the military) goes far beyond the battlefield. We must always consider what the true priority is in any given time and place.
In a modern day corollary — Imagine going into a parish for the sake of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament and once you got yourself situated you pulled out your phone to check email, texts, and Facebook.
Those are not bad things but they must be set aside when the situation allows you to sit before Jesus.
Pax et Bonum,
Fr Steve
the Very Rev’d Dr SG Rindahl
Steve on Twitter
www.StevenRindahl.com