Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 17th July

For us at General Chapter yesterday was a half day and today a free day, so I’m hoping to visit some ancient country churches as well as Exeter Cathedral, one of the many medieval cathedrals of England I have not seen. Yesterday I dedicated an hour in the afternoon to a little retail therapy at the abbey shops. They have an excellent bookstore and shops that sell products from other monasteries, especially in France. Because of the good weather, I particularly enjoy eating breakfast and supper in the open air: it’s great fun and so relaxing. The work is serious and can be hard, but I can’t help feeling that I’m on holiday! It must be one of the effects of Lockdown!

Martha and Mary, sisters of Lazarus and friends of Jesus from Bethany, are two of the most well-known characters in the Bible. We meet them in the Gospels of John and of Luke, (Lk 10: 38-42), and it is Luke whom we read today. Martha appears to be the elder of the two, for it is she who welcomes Jesus to her house. Whereas Martha is busy preparing a meal for their guest, “Mary sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking.” This upset Martha, who was expecting Mary to help her. We should remember that Jesus could not have been travelling alone and would not have been alone in the company of a woman. There must have been a whole retinue of disciples and followers to attend to. Martha says to Jesus, “Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.” I wonder if they had servants or other family members to help. Anyway, Jesus replies, “Martha, Martha, you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.” Let’s be clear: this is not a reprimand or a failure to recognise the important work that Martha is doing, but Jesus is saying to Martha, “Look, I have come to see you, not just to eat in your house. I want to see you and speak with you, just as I am with your sister Mary. The food can wait. The perfect host stays with her guests.” In other words, first things first, and in the case of Jesus, he wants our time, our attention, our hearts, our very selves, our lives. His material needs are few, but his desire for our hearts and minds is great indeed. Let us never forget that, while not forgetting lesser things too. The same goes for other relationships too.