A reflection by Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB, delivered to our community on the vigil of the Novice Investiture of Sister Hope
Photos courtesy of Sister Hope’s family
Tomorrow we happily celebrate the Memorial of Martha, Mary and Lazarus (July 29). It is also the day on which Hope will receive the Benedictine habit — the mark of our monastic life. In a sense, Hope is being invited into the house of Bethany, which Jesus loved dearly, and where He was dearly loved as well.
In Bethany, it is Martha who seems to have initiated the friendship of Jesus by inviting Him into their lives. It says in the Gospel that she “welcomed” Him; you could say that her warmth impelled Him. Her sister Mary’s response to Jesus is one of being captivated by Him. She allowed herself to be drawn in, held still in His presence. But we don’t hear that much more about Mary — it seems to be a relationship more hidden. Her tears about her brother’s death is the last we hear of her, and it touches Jesus deeply. Is that not the contemplative life?
The Gospel tells us more of Martha. She apparently allowed her hospitality to become burdensome. Martha instructed Jesus, “Tell her to help me” (Luke 10:40). I read somewhere that whenever a name is pronounced twice in the Gospels, it signals that the one spoken to is someone very dear, so that means something when we get to hear, “Martha, Martha…Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her” (Luke 10:41-42). In a way it seems like a bit of a rebuke, perhaps because Martha had been invited by Jesus to stay there as well, but she felt like she “needed” to push on to serving.
Hope, tomorrow you will hear during the investiture ceremony, “I accept you as a Novice into this community,” and, “you should strive to live the monastic life.” Strive to truly live in community. You wish to join this community for the love of Jesus Christ? Well, let everything be permeated by love. Prefer nothing to the Love of Jesus. Above all, seek God and the ways in which He guides you to perfection in this life.
Every time you put the habit on, remember, you are a handmaid of the Lord; be ready and eager to serve God with undivided devotion. Let your belt remind you of the chains Jesus wore in His passion. That is actually why we hold our hands down beneath our scapulars. It really is to remind us of Christ and what He bore for us. We can never forget His Passion — nor His Resurrection. Both are needed. When you at last clothe yourself with the scapular, it is a sign of completion. His yoke is easy, His burden light, when born with love. The veil you will wear is a sign of your religious state, may you always be recognized as one consecrated to God. Wear the habit of our community with great dignity. Wear it remembering the centuries of women who have worn this habit, lived the Benedictine life, and have been buried in this habit. It means something. It means we are one body — We don’t live for ourselves; we are in community. We do what we can in community to serve Christ in each other. And when we wear this habit, we remember we have been chosen. We wear it as women who are chosen. We also have chosen. Christ chose and we chose. He puts His hand out, but we also have to put out ours. They meet, but His is stronger I have to say.
Jesus loved Bethany because of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Without them, we wouldn’t hear of the town of Bethany; we wouldn’t have that same notion of it. Bethany is a home He loved dearly, where Hewas loved unconditionally. May we too be like Bethany full of love and devotion and ever attentive to the needs of His heart. That’s what it means to be at home with Christ — We are attentive to His heart.
So, I wish you all the joy of tomorrow. You are stepping into a new stage and are giving of the things that meant so much in the world, so you can receive the things of heaven.