The Better Part (16th Sunday Ordinary C)

I was with two friends discussing quite casually our views on social change. At some point of the exchange, one expressed his conviction that activism is the best and effective channel of reform.  His life had been, in fact, engaged in cause-oriented movements. The other, however, quickly suggested that contemplation is most essential in shaping the external world whose structures are mere effects caused by what is conceived in the inner world of the mind. Quite easily the discussion was led to a synthesis: Both action and contemplation are essential.  They have to interact in a creative tension; and this mutual influence on each other is called by some social theorists as praxis. Praxis is acted-upon reflection and reflected-upon action. It is this dynamic cycle which is transformative and liberating.

We can discern a similar concern in the encounter of Jesus with the two sisters, Martha and Mary in today’s gospel reading (Lk 10:38-42).  Martha, who busied herself serving the Lord with her hospitality, may represent the active life; while Mary, who did nothing but sit beside the Lord at his feet to listen to him, may symbolize for us the contemplative life. As recounted in the gospel, Martha was kind of complaining about Mary’s lack of concern to help her in serving the Lord.  Jesus pointed out, as a correction, that she was anxious and worried about many things and that Mary had actually chosen the better part.

We must quickly note though that Jesus is in no way degrading the value of service. We must remember the message of the Parable of the Good Samaritan which, in Luke’s gospel, immediately precedes this encounter between Jesus and the two sisters. In the parable, the love of neighbor is expressed in active compassion and service to the needy. In today’s gospel, what Jesus wanted Martha to recognize and be wary of is her anxieties. Service or ministry remains an essential element of Christian life. But this assertion should not allow a Christian to ignore the Lord altogether. Instead, as today’s gospel would remind us, one has to realize that there is something better than our “work for the Lord;” and it is the Lord himself and union with him.

Hence, our challenge is to strike a dynamic balance between our active ministry and contemplative prayer.  Many have intertwined these two elements in their daily lives and have developed a way of life that is described as contemplative-in-action. If we cannot learn to sustain this creative tension, then our active ministry, on the one hand, will end up devoid of its spiritual intentionality. Without prayer and contemplation, our ministry will be reduced to a series of disoriented activities. Many of those who have trodden this path have ended up with fatigue and burn out, their anxieties and worries overwhelming them. They may have expended all their creative energies to their causes but would still be haunted by a nagging feeling of emptiness at the end of the day.

On the other hand, if our contemplation and prayer do not lead us to service, we might suffer from empty spiritualism.  We enjoy the peace and serenity of our union with God in prayer but we have ignored the disturbing cries of those who need our active service.  In this case, our contemplation and prayer becomes our method of escape from the difficult yet valid concerns in life, communal or personal.

Our invitation, therefore, is as clear as the blue sky. For those who tend to spiritualize the many and varied concerns in life spending their time exclusively in pious devotions, the invitation is towards active service.  They should allow their silent moment with God to bring them the confidence to face the challenges of life and the necessary grace that enables them to respond to the cry of those in need. Their prayer must lead them to service, works of charity, justice, and liberation.

For the activist among us, those who are result and productivity-oriented, the invitation is to seek the will of God in prayer.  We need to incorporate into our daily schedule a time to be silent and still in order to pray. In silent contemplation, we allow the Lord to direct our creative energies and, more importantly, to love us for who we are and not for what we do for him. After all, we have been called “human beings;” not “human doings.” Our worth does not lie in our productivity but in the sheer fact that we are loved by God. Our activism propels us to serve. But if it is unreflected, it betrays our misplaced priority. So, while we must value our service and ministry, we are clearly reminded by the gospel today to know and embrace “the better part.”