Today, as on every feast of the Most Holy Theotokos, in the Church we read the Gospel passage about Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus. For a long time, its meaning often confused me. Martha is busy around the house, preparing to welcome Christ, while Mary sits at His feet, listening to what He says, not moving at all. In the end, Martha says: “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” Surprisingly, Christ answers: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But only one thing is needed. And Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10)
Aristotle, long before Christ’s incarnation, spoke about the importance of virtue, naming the most important ones and pointing to their significance for a person to reach eudaimonia—true fulfillment. But he emphasized that this would not happen merely by practicing and fulfilling certain virtues; a person must change their character, must shape their very personality into “virtue” itself. Then virtues will be practiced naturally and spontaneously. Yet, to build such a personality, one must learn, listen, practice, and strive.
If we were to use an analogy with computers, you may try to run the best possible programs, but all in vain if the hard drive is weak and cannot support them properly. It is the same with people: it is good that they strive to multiply virtues, but it is in vain if they do not have Christ’s words deep within their hearts. Mary chose to listen to Christ, to allow Him to change her personality, to let Him “strengthen” her “hard drive.” Martha does everything sincerely and with good intention, but she misses the essence. She worries and troubles herself about properly welcoming Christ, while it is far more important to Him—and to her—that she listens to Him.
If we compare this to today’s celebration of the Slava, it may become even clearer. How many times have we all worried and troubled ourselves about whether there will be enough food, whether it will be tasty enough, whether we will need to borrow chairs from the neighbors, and so on? Often we are so busy with hosting that we fail to set aside quality time to truly talk with our guests—both casually and about serious matters of life. Sometimes it seems as if people have “rushed through” our home without us having a proper human conversation with them. And that is because we are burdened with food, drink, and hosting. Even worse, many in all of this completely skip going to church! And how often do we truly remember the Saint—our protector—who he is and what kind of life he lived?
This is what Christ speaks to Martha—and to all of us about. Do not worry and do not be troubled, Martha. It is good that your intention is sincere, but before food and drink, I want you. I want your attention and your love. The problem is not your work and effort, but the worry and agitation that run through it—and which in the end became directed against your own sister. Is this not familiar to most of us? In organizing a Slava and the stress surrounding it, we often direct our dissatisfaction toward those we love the most.
This event teaches us how much greater importance spiritual communion has compared to earthly concerns—both toward God and toward our neighbors. If we place obedience and attention to Christ in the first place, our life will naturally “radiate” and manifest virtue and meaning. It will not be mere fulfillment of duties and rules, nor will it be filled with worry and agitation.
And of course, this Gospel is read on Theotokos feasts because this Mary—the Most Holy Theotokos—showed obedience and attentiveness to God’s will and Providence as no one else ever has in human history. The Gospel reading ends with another passage, where one of the women who followed and listened to the Lord cried out: “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which You nursed!” And He said: “Truly, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” (Luke 11:27–28) By this He does not deny that His Mother is blessed—on the contrary, He confirms it. He even sets Her as the ultimate example of one who hears and keeps God’s word, calling us all to strive toward such blessedness, having Her as our model.
Happy Feast, and may God grant that, learning from the sisters of Lazarus, we may be a little more like Mary and a little less like Martha. And may we expect the same from our hosts: sincere conversation and genuine attention, rather than all our concern being focused on how much and what we will eat and drink at Slavas. Above all, let us have the Mother of God as our example and model of obedience and love.
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