3. These few words, as the shortness of the time allowed me, would I speak concerning
the Lord who was pleased to be fed in the flesh, while He feedeth in the spirit: let us now
come to the subject which I have proposed concerning unity. Martha, who was arranging
and preparing to feed the Lord, was occupied about much serving. Mary her sister chose
rather to be fed by the Lord. She in a manner deserted her sister who was toiling about much
serving, and she sat herself at the Lord’s feet, and in stillness heard His word. Her most
faithful ear had heard already; “Be still, and see that I am the Lord.”3312 Martha was troubled,
Mary was feasting; the one was arranging many things, the other had her eyes upon the
One. Both occupations were good; but yet as to which was the better, what shall we say? We
have One whom we may ask, let us give ear together. Which was the better, we heard now
when the lesson was read, and let us hear again as I repeat it. Martha appeals to her Guest,
lays the request of her pious complaints before the Judge, that her sister had deserted her,
and neglected to assist her when she was so busied in her serving. Without any answer from
Mary, yet in her presence, the Lord gives judgment. Mary preferred as in repose to commit
her cause to the Judge, and had no mind to busy herself in making answer. For if she were
to be getting ready words to answer, she must remit her earnest attention to hear. Therefore
the Lord answered, who was in no difficulty for words, in that He was the Word. What then
did He say? “Martha, Martha.” 3313 The repetition of the name is a token of love, or perhaps
of exciting attention; she is named twice, that she might give the more attentive heed.
“Martha, Martha,” hear: “Thou art occupied about many things: but one thing is needful;”3314
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for so meaneth unum opus est, not “one work,” that is, one single work, but one is needful,
is expedient, is necessary, which one thing Mary had chosen.3315
4. Consider, Brethren, this “one thing,” and see if even in multitude itself anything
pleases, but “this oneness.” See how great a number, through God’s mercy, ye are: who could
bear you, if ye did not mind “one thing”? Whence in this many is this quiet? Give oneness,
and it is a people; take oneness away, and it is a crowd. For what is a crowd, but a disordered
multitude? But give ear to the Apostle: “Now I beseech you, brethren.” He was speaking to
a multitude; but he wished to make them all “one.” “Now I beseech you, brethren, that ye
all speak the same thing, and that there be no schisms among you; but that ye be perfected
in the same mind, and in the same knowledge.”3316 And in another place, “That ye be of
one mind, thinking one thing, doing nothing through strife or vainglory.”3317 And the Lord
3312 Ps. xlvi. 10.
3313 Luke x. 41.
3314 Luke x. 42.
3315 St. Augustin is explaining the words unum opus est, which in themselves might mean, “there is one
work,” or as in the text.
3316 1 Cor. i. 10.
3317 Phil. ii. 2, 3.
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On the words of the Gospel, Luke x. 38, ‘And a certain woman named Martha…