瑪爾大與瑪利亞

by FLL Editorial Team
2013-07-21

Mary and Martha
路加福音 10:38-42

主耶穌基督每個作為和每句說話都是引導我們邁向虔敬和美善的準則。祂降生成人,好讓我們盡可能學習他的言行。

祂以自己為榜樣教導門徒,在那些接待他們的人的家裡,不應該無所事事,要以天主神聖的教導填滿這些人的心靈。但是,容許那些侍候的人,樂意和認真地款待他們這些客人,原因有兩個:第一,他們將被門徒的教導熏陶;另外,他們將獲得仁愛的獎賞。

可是當瑪爾大受到接待主的俗務困擾時,她打斷了主的話,並埋怨她的妹妹瑪利亞,說:「主!我的妹妹丟下我一個人工作,你不介意嗎?」

瑪利亞正在汲取主耶穌話中的甘甜;瑪爾大則正為主準備晚宴。因此,主回答瑪爾大說:「瑪爾大,瑪爾大!你為了許多事,操心忙碌,其實需要的,唯有一件。」瑪利亞渴望專注於這需要的一件,因為經書有云:「親近天主對我是多麼的美好」(詠 73:28)。我們需要的正是聖父、聖子及聖神。

留意主耶穌並非阻止我們殷勤招待客人,而是不希望我為太多事情分心。祂本來沒有對瑪爾大說甚麼,但當她試圖拉開她妹妹時,主才趁機訓導她。出於需要而款待客人原是值得尊敬,但不要因此阻礙我們著眼更重要的事情,因聆聽天主聖言明顯更為重要。

讓我們像瑪利亞一樣,對主的智慧懷著渴望。因這是更重大、更完美的工作。我們不應讓任何俗務打擾我們渴求天主的聖言和知識,也不要指責或認為追求智慧的人在偷懶。想清楚,怎樣才算是真正的積極參與。

Luke 10:38-42

Now every work and word of our Savior is a rule of piety and virtue. For this is why He took on flesh, that we might imitate His conversation as much as we can. By His own example, Jesus teaches His disciples how they ought to behave in the houses of those who receive them, that they should not remain idle, but rather fill the minds of those who receive them with sacred and divine teaching. But let those who make ready the house, go to meet their guests gladly and earnestly, for two reasons. First, they will be edified by the teaching of those whom they receive; next, they will receive the reward of charity.

But Martha, when much troubled in her occupation and business of serving, interrupted our Lord, and complained of her sister. For it follows, and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?" For Mary was absorbed in the sweetness of our Lord's words; Martha was as preparing a feast for our Lord, in whose feast Mary was now rejoicing.

Our Lord therefore, answered as follows, "Martha, Martha. You are troubled about many things. But one thing is needful." Mary wished to be occupied about that one needful thing, according to that, "It is good for me to cling close to the Lord." (Psalms 73:28) The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are that one necessary thing. Jesus does not bring us to this one thing unless we being many have one heart in Jesus.

Note that Our Lord does not forbid hospitality, but being distracted by many things. And mark the wisdom of our Lord, in that at first He said nothing to Martha, but when she sought to tear away her sister from hearing, then the Lord took occasion to reprove her. For hospitality is ever honored as long as it keeps us to necessary things. But when it begins to hinder us from attending to what is of greater importance, then it is plain that the hearing of the divine word is the more honorable.

May we then, like Mary, be influenced by the desire of wisdom. For this is the greater, this the more perfect work. We should not let the care of ministering to others turn our minds from the knowledge of the heavenly word, nor reprove or think lazy those whom we see seeking after wisdom. Think again as what counts here as truly active participation.

References:
Catena Aurea (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Monastic Constitutions (St. Basil the Great)
Sermon 69, Commentary on St. Luke (St. Cyril of Alexandria)
Sermon 53 on the New Testament (St. Augustine)
Explanations on the Gospels (St. Theophylact of Ochrid)
Commentary of Saint Ambrose on the Gospel according to Saint Luke (St. Ambrose of Milan)

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