Today as we celebrate the Memorial of St. Martha, that legendary “family saint” who is often dismissed as a caricature of today’s busy person, I am taking a moment to honor Martha the contemplative, Martha the hope-filled, Martha the woman of faith.

July is truly the heart of summer in the Midwest.  Here on Creighton’s campus, it is impossible not to take a stroll down the mall or sit for a spell out in the Jesuit gardens, and not let the beauty of summer wash over the cares of the day.  On days like these, I can feel the laughter bubbling up in me as I contemplate the hundreds of unchecked-off items on my “to-do list,” and admire the splendid colors of the impatiens, the marigolds, the azaleas, and the green grass, all waving in the almost non-existent breeze.  “Oh, thanks be to God,” I think, “that I can see and smell and touch and taste this goodness!”  Life seems less complicated, less threatening, less hectic, and less demanding in these long, humid days.  We are welcoming a new crop of first-years to campus at a leisurely pace.  We are reading our scholarly journals with admiration and perhaps a chuckle, and enjoying our colleagues, our summer students and visitors to campus with a lighthearted hospitality.  We seem to appreciate them more, savor their smiles, and take more time to enjoy their summer tales.  It is good to be present to others, present to ourselves.

Presence, after all, is everything.

Today’s reading from Exodus gives us snippets extracted from a long story of the present God, the great “I AM,” struggling with the “stiff-necked people” of Israel.  Today’s excerpts reflect a juncture in the story after Moses had destroyed the original tablets containing the Lord God’s commandments.  Remember how Moses had become exasperated when he had discovered the people worshipping the golden calf?  Moses’ anger reflects God’s anger at the people’s infidelity, and God has threatened not to accompany the people any longer on their journey.  “But I myself will not go up in your company, because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise I might exterminate you on the way.” (Exod. 33:3b)  Moses, of course, ever the defender for the people, pleads with the Lord God, “If you are not going yourself, do not make us go up from here.  For how can it be known that we, your people and I, have found favor with you, except by your going with us?” (vss. 15-16a)  “I myself,” the Lord answered, “will go along, to give you rest.” (vs. 14)

When God goes along on the journey, everything is good.  We can rest, relax, and trust that God has everything under control.  That is the lesson that Martha’s sister, Mary, knew when in Luke’s Gospel (10:38-42), she is content to sit at the feet of Jesus and enjoy his company.  She had certainly chosen the “better part” to sit with the Lord, and Martha had to bite her tongue for complaining about it!  Unfortunately, Martha has gotten bad press ever since.

John’s Gospel (11:19-27), when seen in conjunction with Luke’s, applauds Martha in her disciple role:  “When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home.”  Especially in John’s story of the death of Lazarus, Martha is the assertive one, the one who trusts in God in the time of darkness.  Martha is the one speaks to Jesus without fear, without hesitation, saying what is in her heart.  “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”  Martha comes out to seek the presence of Jesus while Mary stays at home; Martha proclaims her belief in Jesus and knows that his presence can give life.

How can I be present today in a faith-filled way?  How can I let others know that I believe that God is with us on the journey?  How can I show God’s presence within me in little ways today?

Prayer:  Lord, the flowers and the trees proclaim your goodness!  You are our resurrection and our life!  Help us to grow in faith and trust during these long days of summer.  Help us to be more present to those around us, and to come to you with everything, like St. Martha.  Help us to be willing to let go of our cares and anxieties to follow you.  We ask this through Jesus, our Lord, who is present now and always.  Amen.