“He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (2 Cor. 10:17)
The liturgical commemoration of Saint Martha, Virgin, as celebrated in the traditional Roman Rite on July 29th, invites a profound meditation on the complementary virtues of service and contemplation. In this III class feast, the Church honors the sister of Mary and Lazarus not merely for her bustling hospitality but also for her eventual embrace of the “better part” through a maturing faith and love for Christ.
The epistle (2 Corinthians 10:17–18; 11:1–2) and the Gospel (Luke 10:38–42) appointed for this feast converge on a theme rich with both apostolic depth and monastic ideal: the boasting that is proper to the Christian, the espousal of the soul to Christ, and the interior life chosen above worldly distraction.
“Let him glory in the Lord” — The Humble Boast of the Apostle
Saint Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, reminds the faithful that true glory lies not in self-commendation but in being approved by God. “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (2 Cor. 10:17) This echoes Jeremiah 9:23–24, where God declares that boasting must not rest in wisdom, might, or riches, but in knowing and understanding Him.
St. John Chrysostom comments:
“Nothing is so foreign to a Christian as arrogance and boasting. If we boast, let it be only in what God has done for us and through us. For this is true humility: to see God’s work even in our labors.” (Homilies on 2 Corinthians)
Paul then expresses a divine jealousy: he has espoused the Corinthian Church to Christ “as a chaste virgin” (2 Cor. 11:2). This imagery, rooted in Old Testament nuptial symbolism (cf. Hosea, Song of Songs), was interpreted by the Fathers as the mystical betrothal of the Church—and each soul—to Christ the Bridegroom.
St. Ambrose writes:
“The soul that is faithful in purity and doctrine is a virgin espoused to Christ. She keeps herself for Him, free from idols, errors, and all uncleanness.” (Exposition on Luke)
This chaste espousal resonates powerfully with today’s saint. St. Martha, though remembered for her active service, also came to exemplify the soul’s transformation into a faithful bride of Christ, especially in the later Johannine account (John 11), where she makes a bold confession of faith: “Yes, Lord, I believe…” (Jn 11:27).
“Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled…” — The Call to the Better Part
The Gospel passage (Luke 10:38–42) recounts the familiar and tender episode of Jesus in the home of Martha and Mary. While Martha is “careful and troubled about many things,” Mary “sits at the feet of Jesus,” choosing the “one thing necessary.”
This Gospel, so often seen as contrasting the active and contemplative lives, must be read with nuance. It does not rebuke Martha’s charity, but lovingly invites her to an interior stillness that elevates her service into union with Christ’s will.
Origen, reflecting on this passage, states:
“Martha represents the active life, Mary the contemplative. Yet both are necessary, and both are good. But the better part—the more eternal and restful—is contemplation of the Word, which shall not be taken away.” (Homilies on Luke)
St. Gregory the Great, in his Homilies on the Gospels, beautifully elaborates:
“It was not Martha’s work that was blamed, but her solicitude. For her good deed was not diminished, but her heart’s distraction was corrected.”
Indeed, Christ does not diminish the value of Martha’s hospitality; rather, He elevates it by gently guiding her from mere action toward contemplation. This interior transformation of the active life is the ideal of all the saints.
In the School of Saint Martha
Saint Martha’s sanctity lies not only in her active charity but in her ultimate surrender to the primacy of faith and love. Tradition holds that after the Resurrection, she journeyed to Gaul where, according to the Provençal legends, she lived a virginal and apostolic life, overcoming pagan fears (even famously confronting a dragon!) and converting many to Christ.
Her feast, therefore, is fittingly adorned with the quiet commemoration of Ss. Felix, Simplicius, Faustinus, and Beatrice—Roman martyrs whose hidden heroism complements Martha’s witness. Together they affirm the many paths by which the soul is wedded to Christ: in martyrdom, in virginity, in service, and in contemplation.
Let us today heed the gentle correction of Christ to Martha—not as a rebuke but as a loving redirection. Let us serve, yes, but serve in peace. Let us labor, yes, but labor with an interior gaze fixed upon the Lord. Let us, above all, seek the unum necessarium, the “one thing necessary,” which is communion with Christ.
Closing Prayer
O God, who didst welcome Thy Son into the house of Thy handmaid Martha, grant that we, who celebrate her feast, may, through her intercession, serve Thee faithfully in our brethren and merit to be received into Thy heavenly banquet. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Suggested Devotional Practice for Today:
Spend ten minutes in silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament (or in your home), contemplating the words: “Mary hath chosen the better part.” Ask St. Martha for the grace to sanctify your daily duties through love and recollection.
Sancta Martha, ora pro nobis!