tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21822203.post116293398937566990..comments2023-09-13T04:31:43.283-07:00Comments on The Abandoned Mind: A Reflection on Mary and MarthaFr. Michael Reaganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265035749268657422noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21822203.post-1163217567905231172006-11-10T19:59:00.000-08:002006-11-10T19:59:00.000-08:00And here is one difference, to expound upon the fu...And here is one difference, to expound upon the fullness of Martha, or to give a good report concerning Martha in that venue.<BR/><BR/>No doubt and often overlooked is the fact the woman in Jesus's life understood the "what" he was teaching much better than than the men who walked with Him everyday.<BR/><BR/>It was Mary after all who stood watch over Jesus's Tomb.<BR/><BR/>Let us not miss the point of Jesus'sparable, life has many neccesary burdens and duties attached to it, Jesus is neither burden nor duty.<BR/><BR/>He is what is good in life, don't miss it by getting so busy with the mundane that the supranatural is forgooten or shuffled off for "someone else" to listen to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21822203.post-1163172493062145342006-11-10T07:28:00.000-08:002006-11-10T07:28:00.000-08:00Thanks Anonymous, that’s always a good thing to re...Thanks Anonymous, that’s always a good thing to remember. However, wouldn’t it be a shame if that were all we took from this passage? For that would leave us remembering Martha only as the woman who was “too distracted” to sit at Jesus’ feet, and that’s rather like remembering Thomas only as “the doubter” and Peter only as the cowardly denier of Christ. Truly Martha deserves better, as do all the women who are blessed to have her as their patron saint.<BR/><BR/>Martha is one of the shining saints in the New Testament, beloved of Christ and herself a lover of God, illumined by the Holy Spirit to be among the first ever to confess Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God incarnate. She believed in the power of Jesus even before He raised her brother from the dead, thus demonstrating that her faith was not in things seen, but in the mercy and divine power of Christ our God. According to ancient Christian record, Martha was also one of the seven brave women who went to Christ’s tomb to anoint his body with myrrh and spices, and thus was blessed to be among that tiny group of most loyal followers who beheld the angels announcing His glorious resurrection. By this she became a true believer in the resurrection of Christ long before the apostles themselves, who rudely dismissed the women’s report as “an idle tale”.<BR/><BR/>Truly there is much good to remember Martha for. She is now truly “seated at the feet of Jesus” in heaven, and yet still retains her servant’s heart, making intercessions for the faithful on earth who strive to gain her love and devotion to Christ, together her high level of faithful service. She is a truly blessed saint and friend of Christ who deserves better than to only be remembered for her one failure.Fr. Michael Reaganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02265035749268657422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21822203.post-1163118146210931452006-11-09T16:22:00.000-08:002006-11-09T16:22:00.000-08:00For myself, the story is a reminder to not get so ...For myself, the story is a reminder to not get so caught up in the details of life, that we don't listen to what Jesus has to teach.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21822203.post-1163001540114337612006-11-08T07:59:00.000-08:002006-11-08T07:59:00.000-08:00You are correct. St. John tells us in the 11th cha...You are correct. St. John tells us in the 11th chapter of his gospel "memoir" that Martha went out to meet Jesus shortly after her brother's death, while Mary stayed in the house. In her exchange with Him, she made a confession virtually identical to Peter's, "I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world".<BR/><BR/>Yet just a few days later, after Lazarus was raised from the dead, Martha got distracted by much serving and overlooked the "needful thing" of sitting at Jesus' feet.<BR/><BR/>What an important lesson this is to all of us on the need to be watchful of ourselves and make certain that our love for Jesus is expressed both in godly service and in prayerful devotion!<BR/><BR/>Blessed St. Martha, pray for us sinners.Fr. Michael Reaganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02265035749268657422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21822203.post-1162999119207671922006-11-08T07:18:00.000-08:002006-11-08T07:18:00.000-08:00That;s cool you would say that. I always thought t...That;s cool you would say that. I always thought the Martha was a little misunderstood by Christians. I always felt the same way about her reaction that you do. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Plus, wasn't Martha the one, at the death of her brother, to say to God, "If you had been here, our brother would be alive!" She wasn't giving him a guilt-trip. Wasn't she stating her faith in Jesus? And Jesus praises Martha. That's how I understood it to be. Any thoughts?E Ricahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05944283885139909736noreply@blogger.com