Mary and Martha

The Life of Contemplation and the Life of Service:

Mary, the sister of Lazarus, symbolizes in Christianity the life of contemplation, while Martha symbolizes the life of service and work.

Mary used to sit at the feet of Christ listening to Him, while Martha served Him, caring and being troubled, in order to fulfill for the Lord the duty of hospitality fitting for Him, and the service due to Him.

The Lord preferred the life of contemplation to the life of service, by saying to Martha: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41,42).

In all cases, the Church needs both Mary and Martha together. It needs the life of contemplation and the life of work; both of them…

And from the poetry of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III concerning the symbolic meaning of Mary and Martha (Year 1953):

I entered the house, but neither Martha
Nor Mary was in its courtyard…!

So who in the house is for the Lord,
And how—if He comes—will He be served?!

And who longs for His coming,
And who runs, and who smiles?

And who gazes upon His face,
And who listens, and who understands?

And who rejoices in His words,
Throughout the whole night, or dreams?

An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III — El Keraza Magazine — Eighth Year (Issue Forty-Two) — 21-10-1977.

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