Continuing with the notion of Discernment (Third of the 3 Activities), Luke tells us of Martha and Mary where Jesus tells Martha, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part…”
It is not that Martha chose the bad part, hospitality is a good, but, in that moment, it may not have been what Jesus was calling her to – certainly, he was not calling her to be critical of Mary. So, Mary was able to discern what it was she should do at that moment, Martha was not.
As an aside, note that Jesus uses the phrase “there is need of only one thing” which should call to mind St. Faustina’s remark that “one thing alone is necessary”. Here, more specifically, it is sitting at Jesus feet. Prayer too, is spiritually sitting at His feet.
And consider this, it may be that in that moment Martha was learning. It is very likely that being a gradualist, God did not consider it urgent that Martha be in the same place spiritually as Mary, and as uber-teacher, God knew this was the best way and the opportune time for Martha to gain this insight and thus advance in the life in the spirit.
In Christ, Ken.
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