by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice
In today’s Gospel, we read the story of Martha and Mary who, with their brother, Lazarus, were Jesus’ friend. Luke does not mention Lazarus. He is mentioned in John’s Gospel. Last week Bishop Emeritus Sydney Charles from Grenada had lunch at my father’s home in Maraval. While my elder sister, Kamala, cooked up a ‘storm’, laid the table to perfection and was the perfect hostess when he arrived, I rushed in from a meeting at Archbishop’s House, sat at the table with the Bishop and listened to his words of wisdom. Those of you who know her (my sister) will know that she would not have wanted me in the kitchen anyhow.
I recall when he used to visit us in London, on one occasion when Kamala was acting like Martha, he reminded her of this story from Luke 10:38-42. Give Kamala her due, her culinary skills are superb and she is an accomplished hostess. When my mum died Kamala, an attorney-at-law and former Head of Chambers in London, dropped everything to return home with my father to practise law with him and to look after him. He will celebrate his 85th birthday on July 22.
There have been many different interpretations of the story of Martha and Mary e.g. about living an active life as opposed to a contemplative life; about the traditional role of a woman in Jesus’ day; about Mary crossing the line and sitting with the men at Jesus’ feet like a male disciple when she should be in the kitchen helping Martha.
In the bible, this story comes immediately after the parable of the Good Samaritan. I like the interpretation that links the story of Martha and Mary with this parable. It reminds me of the social justice sessions that CCSJ runs – based on Cardinal Joseph Cardijn’s pioneering See/Observe, Reflect/Judge, Act process.
If we are to walk with the two feet of social action – engaging in charitable works while also seeking to transform unjust structures/situations, then, like Mary, we must spend time reflecting and listening – not only to what the Lord has to say to us, but listening to each other.
Too often we rush around busying ourselves with everyday chores. We must find time for reflection which is an important part of social analysis – the Reflect/Judge element of the above process. But, like Martha, we must also ‘act’. Both sisters have critical roles to play.
As Catholics we are not supposed to jump into any situation with two left feet and ‘act’ without letting the light of the Gospel shine on our analysis of the situation. As Pope Paul VE (1971) said in A Call to Action (4):
“It is up to the Christian communities to analyse with objectivity the situation which is proper to their own country, to shed on it the light of the Gospel’s unalterable words and to draw principles of reflection, norms of judgment and directives for action from the social teaching of the Church.”
I leave for St Lucia this week to participate in the AEC Youth Commission’s one week Training Workshop, Empowering Youth Leaders to build a culture of solidarity and justice. If we are to promote authentic integral human development, then we must empower our youths to address social justice issues. I have drawn up a list of some of the challenges facing our youths today. The list is long indeed. But as a people of hope, we must recognise the need to stand in solidarity with our youths as they strive to realise their potential and transform society.
The Workshop will provide a forum for young people to: raise their awareness of the social doctrine of our Church, network, share their concerns and experiences, express themselves, and develop strategies for change, based on Gospel values.
We are one human family living in an interdependent world. Love of God and love of neighbour require us to stand in solidarity with our youths across the Caribbean, and indeed, around the world.
I would like to end by congratulating Renessa Tang Pack who won CCSJ’s Environmental Quiz which appeared in our April Newsletter. Her prize, a copy of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, will be of use to her as she will be studying aspects of the Compendium in the next module of the Social Justice Online Course.
