My thoughts on Mary and Martha (let me tell you what I REALLY think)

I would like to begin with an apology.


As I sit down to write this brief (but passionate) commentary, I have a vague idea on where my thoughts are going to take me, and I know it's not going to be good. I might even be a little irreverent. I am apologizing now, in advance.


So Mary and Martha. You know, the sisters in the bible in which Martha is the very essence of domesticity while Mary sits at Jesus' feet and lets her sister do all the work.


This story annoys me.


Believe me, I have tried to understand, and a few years ago I wrote a spiritually meaningful post on this very story in which I used my nightly ritual of turning on a lamp in every room to describe the relevance of the Martha-Mary story today. It was a nice commentary ... heartwarming and poetic. (You can read it here: Learning to be Mary in a Martha world).


So believe me when I say that I get it. Totally. I know that the story is about spiritual, rather than physical nourishment. I realize that it's a reminder of the heavenly banquet table, rather than an earthly one. I understand that we can't function like Martha if we don't try to be more like Mary. I get all that.


But still.


I would have liked to hear the story told from a woman's point of view because, believe me, I bet everyone was relieved when dinner was finally served.


And that meal didn't prepare itself.


And I think Martha gets a bad rap.


It seems as if every time this story is discussed Martha represents someone who puts her busyness in front of her faith; that she is running around trying to make everyone happy and comfortable while letting her (spiritual) self go; and that -- worse of all! -- she chooses to do so and is therefore forever known as the less spiritual sister.


Well, excuse me, but I'm with Martha on this one because in her I see someone who is an example of the practical aspects of our faith -- the hands on approach, if you will, of what it means to live stewardship.


I mean, is it better to pray for someone who needs a coat, or to give him one? Or, in Martha's case, is it better to let everyone sit around hot, dusty, hungry and thirsty, or to lovingly see to their needs?


And think about this: in the examples above, which actions are easier?


Then, during Mass last night our priest mentioned another angle of the story -- that of Martha's anger at her sister. He pointed out how we are all guilty of "flying off the handle" or "blowing things out of proportion." I never considered that angle. Let me think about that ...


Yup, guilty. Many times over.


But ...


Hello?!? You try to get dinner on the table for lots of (unexpected) guests.


Now, we don't know the rest of the story, but I just bet everyone eventually sat down to a nice meal (one that did NOT prepare itself) and that grumbling stomachs, parched throats, and heat-induced headaches disappeared all because Martha worked behind the scenes.  And because their tired bodies were now nourished, everyone lingered to hear even more of Jesus' teachings.


So what do I REALLY think? Martha is the heroine. She is, after all, the one who greets Jesus -- As they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him (Luke 10:38) -- and she is the one who provides for everyone's physical needs so that Christ's work could be done.

Christ in the House of Martha and Mary
-Johannes Vermeer, 1655

A Pikachu on My Knee and a Rattata on My Hand

The other night we were watching America's Got Talent when Timothy asked if he could check the Pokémon Go App on the iPad to see if any Pokémon were around.


"Why?" I asked. "It's too dark to go outside."


"Sometimes they will pop up right where you are." he replied.


"Pokémon can be here? In the HOUSE?" I asked, a little horrified.


Timothy nods, and opens the app. A few minutes later he looks up.


"Uh, Mom, you have a Pikachu on your knee," he informs me, and turns the iPad so I can see.


 Sure enough, there I was wearing my striped pajama pants, with a Pikachu on my knee.


"OH MY GOSH! IT'S ON MY KNEE! GET IT OFF!"


It was neat, weird, and freaky all at once.


Then later, Rattata popped in. See? They're everywhere!

The Reading Gene

Either you like to read, or you don't. Either you're good in math, or you're not. It's all in the genes, and it's totally random. Take our family, for example ...


Jonathan is the only one of our sons who looks like me, but who totally takes after Joe in that he's great in math and will only read sports books.


Then there's Nicholas. He looks more like Joe, and has Joe's mathematical/engineering mind, but he definitely inherited my reading gene. Here is a photo of his summer reading.


"He's reading all these books even when he doesn't have to?" a horrified Timothy asked me.


And speaking of Timothy, we're still trying to figure him out. He may look like Joe, but otherwise he is a smorgasbord of everything else.

Nicholas' summer reading.
I call him my Renaissance Man because he reads everything --
biographies, programming books, fiction, nonfiction, music books, and sports almanacs.
That's my reading gene he's exercising.

 

Questions & Answers

On both sides of our family, Joe and I have lots and lots of nephews, but only two nieces. Just two. As you can imagine, they are both pretty special. Ellison is ten years old, an avid reader, and loves cats. Sara is my other niece, and she has graduated from college and works in the corporate fitness and health industry.

She also has a blog, Oats & Rows, which is full of ideas on food, recipes, fitness, and healthy living. Today I am going to link up with her and answer a fun questionnaire which she recently posted.

Feel free to join in!

What brings you the greatest joy? Traveling. There is nothing like heading out into the unknown armed only with a map and a spirit of adventure.

What are your vices? According to Joe, procrastination, but let’s not ask him. According to me, probably that I dictate all my texts – texts which Siri doesn’t understand – and it gets me into trouble all the time.

What is on your nightstand? I am a minimalist, so I don’t like clutter. So I have a lamp, a framed Italian painting on an easel, and the phone (compared to Joe, I have a much quicker reaction time when it rings in the middle of the night).

Do you have a secret talent? Secret talent … nope. I am boring like that.

What is your greatest indulgence? Cookbooks, travel books, ceramic dinner plates, and watches. I never met a watch I didn’t like. And the chunkier, the better.

What should everyone try at least once in their life? Study abroad. Or live in a foreign country for at least a month where you don’t know the language.

What makes you laugh? Late nights with my sister. Once we get started, we cannot stop.

What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you? As much as I like to travel, I absolutely hate flying. And as much as I love to cook, I absolutely do not like to bake.

What is on your bucket list? Finish my book. Get it published. Have a weekly column. Own a Bed & Breakfast, or a corner café. Visit every country in Europe.

How did you make your first dollar? Babysitting. I made a lot of money babysitting.

What item in your closet do you wear the most? My black tank tops. I have a lot of black tank tops. They can be layered or worn alone and, best of all, they go with absolutely everything.

What is the best gift you ever received? My white Capri watch that Joe purchased for me on the island of Capri. The wooden darning egg my Nonna gave me. Oh, and let’s not forget my espresso machine which was a combination birthday-Christmas present from my sister-in-law.

What is on your liquor shelf? Wine, but if you look in the freezer you will find three bottles of chilled homemade limoncello.

What is on your kitchen counter? Again, I don’t like clutter, so I don’t even keep the toaster on my countertop. Presently there is a corner lamp, a cookbook on a stand, and my espresso machine.

What would you never leave home without? My flat iron, because if there is one thing that EVERYONE knows about me is that when it's humid I have frizzy hair. Why am I even living in the south?

A Goodwill Find

A couple of weeks ago, on a hot, steamy Friday night heading into a long weekend, we decided to go walk around the Goodwill bookstore and café. We don't go there often, but when we do everyone usually comes home with something.


And that Friday night was no exception.


The boys bought books (including a sports almanac and a music book), Timothy purchased an iPod case, and I found an absolute treasure.

There on a shelf, still wrapped in cellophane from when it was originally purchased, was a Catholic Family Album published by Regina Press and stamped with an authentic Vatican Library Collection Seal. It was beautifully decorated with religious artwork and Sacred Scripture, with thick photo framed pages to insert pictures.


And with my mother's 70th birthday a week away, it was meant to be.


Love it when things work out like that ...

Beating the Heat in an Italian Kitchen with ... Wine?

Honestly, who wants to cook in this heat? Not me. Who wants to grill when the temperature reading is in the triple digits?  Not Joe.


As you can see, it's a problem.


So last weekend, on a large wooden platter I arranged a meal of antipasti ... a beautiful assortment of herb coated salami, thinly sliced prosciutto, chunks of parmigiano-reggiano, Italian grissini, crusty baguettes, and vine-ripened tomatoes dressed in olive oil and vinegar.


#seewhatididthere?


No cooking required, but molto delizioso.


"Too bad I don't drink yet," Timothy announces. "All this would go perfectly with wine."


Chilled vino bianco. Now THAT is refreshing.

The Westing Game (summer reading: book 5, week 7)

So, you probably noticed that our count is off. What happened to weeks 5 and 6?


Allow me enlighten you. Week 5 was a trip to Lake Tahoe and despite the best of intentions -- nothing. Nada. No summer reading. At all. To be sure, I had downloaded TWO books for Timothy on my Kindle because I figured, you know, all that waiting in airports ...


Yeah, right.


But I'm just as guilty. I had download THREE books for me and how many did I read? None. Not one.


Instead, we read guide books and brochures. And maps. Believe it or not, there were some areas of Lake Tahoe which were dead zones with no internet reception, so with no iPhone GPS we had to practice our map reading skills. Since I was driving Timothy was my personal GPS system, and he did a pretty good job considering we arrived everywhere we set out to go.


Just don't call him Siri.


As for week 6, I'm not really sure. Jet lag? Preparations for July 4th? Long weekend with everyone home?


Evidently week 6 cannot be accounted for.


I am NOT perfect.


But here we are week 7, and we are back on track. For book 5 Timothy will be reading The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, a mystery novel highlighting the adventures of Sam Westing's sixteen heirs as they accept his challenge to figure out the secret of his death. (BTW, in 2012 The Westing Game was ranked #9 among all-time children's novels in a survey published by the School Library Journal. It also won the Newberry Award.)


When Timothy's Aunt Laura was 12 years old, this was her all-time favorite book, so it comes highly recommended.


In fact, Timothy is reading the EXACT book that belonged to Aunt Laura. You can tell it was much-read and much loved.


Happy summer reading!