Thursday, August 14 : Saint Ambrose

Virtue does not only have one face. Martha and Mary’s example shows us active devotion in the works of the former and a heart’s devout attention to the word of God in the latter. If this attentiveness is joined to a deep faith, it is to be preferred to works: “Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken away from her.” Let us then, too, try hard to gain possession of what no one will be able to take away from us, not by giving a distracted but an attentive ear, for it can happen that even the seed of the heavenly word can be carried off if it is sown along the path (Lk 8,5.12). So be moved by a desire for wisdom, as Mary was: this is a greater and more perfect work. Do not let the cares of serving prevent you from welcoming the word from heaven. Do not criticize or judge to be lazy those you see to be occupied in gaining wisdom, for Solomon, that man of peace, invited it into his home to stay with him (Wsd 9,10). However, it is not a question of blaming Martha for her kind service: Mary is to be preferred because she has chosen the better part. Jesus has all kinds of treasures and he distributes them widely. The wiser of the women recognized and chose what is of more value. The apostles also considered it was preferable not to abandon the word of God to serve at table (Acts 6,2). But both are works of wisdom: Stephen was chosen to be a servant, as a deacon, and he was full of wisdom (Acts 6,5.8)… Indeed, the body of the Church is one and if her members are many, they need each other: “The eye cannot say to the hand: I have no need of you, nor the head say to the feet: I have no need of you” (1Cor 12,21)… If some members are more important, the others are necessary nonetheless. Wisdom dwells in the head, activity in the hands.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team