“There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part.” Jesus, in today’s Gospel Luke 10:38-42.
‘This is of exceptional national significance.’ Guto, on behalf of the University of Wales.
Serendipity, co-incidence, God incidence: at times, things can happen with a similarity that may seem to resonate in an unexpected way. That happened this week at St Melangell’s when news came of a gravestone of national significance which dates from 1699 and is in the churchyard here. It’s a monologue to his dead wife by the deceased person, referencing the Biblical story of sisters Mary and Martha, and may be linked to an educated family of priests with the surname Thomas who were known to live in the parish at that time. This, in a week 326 years later, in which someone with that surname is staying in the Shepherd’s Hut and read the Gospel of the same two sisters!
Guto has been in touch to provide the information that the gravestone’s inscription is in seventeenth century Welsh and reads :
MEGIS MAIR DDIWAIR
OEDD ARA
DYWYSEN
DEWISAIS RAN
IOWNDDA
TRWY YMWRTHOD
TRO MARTHA
FORWYN DDOE-
-TH I FARW YN DD and translates as
LIKE FAITHFUL MARY (WHO WAS A GRACEFUL BUD/EAR OF CORN) I MADE THE EXCELLENT CHOICE (BY REJECTING MARTHA’S TURN) OF A WISE MAIDEN, TO DIE WELL.
The memorial is important as its form is the englyn unodl union, which is fundamental to Welsh bardic tradition, and it is apparently one of the very earliest englynion beddau, or strict metre poetry on graves. There are over 27,000 of these worldwide and Guto writes that this ‘is of huge significance because this is a clever, inventive and masterly englyn, evidence of the survival of the inheritors of the medieval bardic order.’ Thanks to Guto for this and further information which will soon be published through the University of Wales Press.
It’s interesting to note that, in 1699, the reference to faithful Mary seems to praise her whereas Martha’s example is rejected. In the story, Mary sits at Jesus’ feet listening to him, which would normally be the practice of men only, and she was bold in doing this. Martha, in turn, becomes annoyed, chiding Jesus for not getting Mary to help her with the work that needs doing and suggesting he doesn’t care about Martha. Jesus tells her that she is worried and distracted by many things, whereas Mary has chosen to spend time with him – the difficulty with this is that Mary may be making time for Jesus at Martha’s expense. In those days, the provision of hospitality was a priority and perhaps Martha’s concern is about doing this alone. Is that what’s made her anxious? Some may agree that Mary has chosen well and others may have sympathy for Martha with so much to do on her own.
However, if hospitality is her concern, Martha also breaks the rules – just as Mary does by sitting with men – when she complains to Jesus, dragging him into a domestic dispute and possibly causing embarrassment to all present. In suggesting that she’s distracted, Jesus may be indicating that Martha is being pulled in many directions and not truly living in the present moment with her guest. Perhaps that’s why he says that Mary has chosen the better part – she is giving Jesus her full attention while he is in her home.
There are many things in life that may distract and worry us, diverting us from giving proper attention to what is happening like Martha, just as there may be times when we are able to spend time listening to the voice of Jesus like Mary. Prayer and work, rest and responsibilities – all are needed at different times and for various reasons. Perhaps the challenge lies in the balance of the two for laborare est orare, orare est laborare: to work is to pray and to pray is to work.
That applies as much in 2025 as it did in 1699 and in the choices made down the years, whether by those now at rest or alive today. For the challenge to give attention to Jesus and to find peace and hope in the face of so much that could worry or distract us continues, whatever the demands and joys of our own situations. Perhaps 1699 and 2025 are not so far apart as we sometimes think!
With my prayers; pob bendith,
Christine, Priest Guardian.