Summer Rest 

This Tuesday (7/29) we celebrate the feast day of Sts. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, a family of siblings who were close friends of Jesus. Our Lord would often stay at their home in Bethany when He was visiting Jerusalem. In St. Luke’s gospel (Lk 10:38-42), we hear about one such visit. Martha is “burdened with much serving,” while Mary sits at Our Lord’s feet, listening to Him speak. Exasperated, Martha says to Jesus, “tell her to help me.” Christ responds: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” 

Pope Benedict XVI once reflected on this passage in light of the summer season. “This is the period in which schools are closed and the greater part of the holidays are concentrated. Even the pastoral activities in parishes are reduced. It is therefore a favorable time to give priority to what is effectively most important in life, listening to the word of the Lord.” The pope said that Christ’s response to Martha is not a condemnation of her activity or of her provision of hospitality. Rather, He is reminding Martha of what is most important and what gives meaning to everything. Christ the Lord is there, in their very midst, at that very moment. Mary understands this and will not let the opportunity for encounter pass, and Jesus will not send her away. This passage, says Benedict, “recalls the fact that the human person must indeed work and be involved in domestic and professional occupations, but first and foremost needs God, who is the inner light of Love and Truth.”  

Pope Leo XIV has also spoken on the importance of not letting opportunities for encounter pass, saying: “The summer season can help us learn how to slow down and become more like Mary than Martha. Sometimes we too fail to choose the better part. We need to take time to rest and try to learn better the art of hospitality.” Often, this art is learned and practiced best when we simply give time to each other. During summer vacation the busy schedules of the year are interrupted, which should give us more opportunities to give time to each other and rest in each other’s presence. But we can squander that blessing, overscheduling our summer days with activities that can distract us from what is truly life-giving. The pope says: “The holiday industry wants to sell us all sorts of ‘experiences,’ but perhaps not the ones we are really looking for.” Rather than seek lots of “experiences,” we should use this time for deeper encounters with loved ones. “Every genuine encounter is free; it cannot be bought, whether it is an encounter with God, with others or with nature. We need only learn the art of hospitality, which includes both welcoming others and allowing ourselves to be welcomed. We have much to receive, not only to give.” 

As we enter the month of August, I hope you have taken advantage of these long, warm, and beautiful days to enjoy simple and peaceful times of hospitable encounter with loved ones. Life is a great blessing. The summer provides us with extra time to experience this and give thanks to the One who has so blessed us. Don’t let the opportunity pass you by. In this same spirit, please know that I will be taking a break from writing articles in this space during the month of August. New weekly articles will resume in September. 

posted 7/26/25