In his Gospel, St. Luke tells us that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, and a few miles before he arrived in the city he went to rest at the home of some friends in the small town of Bethany. They are three brothers -Lazarus, Martha, and Mary- to whom Jesus showed a particular appreciation, as we can read in other places of the Gospel. The Master feels good in that home, surrounded by friends. Martha prepared to give some refreshment to Jesus and his companions, who were tired after a long journey along hard and dusty roads. So she was busy with the many chores of the house. His sister Mary, sitting at the Lord's feet, listened to his words.
For a long time Martha has been considered a figure and image of the active life, while Mary has been the symbol of the contemplative one. However, for most Christians who have to sanctify themselves in the midst of secular tasks, they cannot be considered as two opposing ways of living Christianity. In the first place, because there would be no sense in a life of work, engaged in business, study, or preoccupied with the problems of the home, that forgets about God; on the other hand, because there would be serious reasons to doubt the sincerity of a life of prayer that does not manifest itself in a finer charity, in a better work done, in a loyal friendship. Work, study, the problems that arise in a normal life, far from being obstacles, should be a means and an occasion for an affectionate relationship with Our Lord.
"On this earth, the contemplation of supernatural realities, the action of grace in our souls, love of neighbor as the tasty fruit of love for God, already represent a foretaste of Heaven, an initiation destined to grow day by day. We Christians cannot stand a double life: we maintain a unity of life, simple and strong, in which all our actions are founded and interpenetrate (...). Let us be contemplative souls, with a constant dialogue, treating the Lord at all times; from the first thought of the day to the last thought of the night, putting our heart continually in Jesus Christ our Lord, reaching Him through Our Holy Mother Mary and, through Him, the Father and the Holy Spirit ".
Professional work, the ordinary difficulties that every existence brings with it, noble dreams, worries... must feed our daily conversation with Jesus. If this were not so, what would we talk about with Him? Those friends of Bethany, as the Apostles also did, would tell the Master about the little incidents of their daily life, asking him what they did not understand. Some of these dialogues of Jesus with his most intimate friends have been recorded in the Gospel: Master," the Apostles say on one occasion, "we have seen one who was casting out demons in your name and we have forbidden him because he is not of our group Other times they simply confess their concerns: Look, we have left everything and followed you, what will become of us? His very life was the subject of conversation with Jesus. This is what we have to do.
At the same time, prayer should enrich all the circumstances we have to go through. Close to Jesus, we will learn to be better friends with our friends, to live fully justice and loyalty in our professional work, to be more human, to remain open and available to meet the needs of others.
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