One of the great topics of dispute in the Christian faith, from the time of St. Paul certainly through the time of Martin Luther and even up to our own day, is the question of faith versus works. The two sisters from our gospel today personify the interplay between faith and works, for Mary seems to represent faith while Martha seems to represent works.

Abraham, who is the father of our faith, certainly seems to be a man of action in the story we read from the book of Genesis today. He sees three men, he approaches them, he invites them to dinner, he runs home, he gets his wife busy cooking, he serves the meal, and he waits on them while they eat.

Today’s Psalm is one of those attributed to David, the king of Israel, and David was certainly a man of action. In this Psalm, the good and holy man is identified by his actions: one who does not slander with his tongue, one who does not lend out money at high interest rates, and one who does not accept a bribe. Continue reading “Mary Has Chosen the Better Part” →