Activa praecedit contemplativam
Martha and Mary as Action and Contemplation
Using Bernard's allegory of Martha and Mary, the chapter teaches that the active life of service rightly precedes the contemplative life of resting in God's word.
For Bernard says: "When Jesus entered this village, two sisters, Martha and Mary — that is, action and the intellect — received him."✦ Now when Jesus came to them, he bestowed two gifts, each suited to the one who received it: virtue and wisdom — virtue for action, wisdom for the intellect. Hence it is also proclaimed by the Apostles: "the power of God and the wisdom of God."✦ But what does it mean that Martha receives him as he enters, runs about, and serves, while Mary, sitting at the feet of the one who has come, lifts her heart to his word — unless it is that action comes first, and contemplation afterward?✦
Scripture's Witness to Good Works Before Understanding
A chain of scriptural citations shows that faith, purified through obedience and good works, is the necessary preparation for contemplative understanding.
For whoever desires to arrive at understanding must first diligently exercise himself in good works, just as it is written: "My son, if you desire wisdom, keep justice, and God will grant her to you." And elsewhere: "I have understood through your commandments." And: "By faith, purifying their hearts."✦ By what faith?
Faith Working Through Love
The faith that purifies the heart is defined as faith animated by charity, echoing Galatians 5:6.
By faith working through love.✦
The Bride's Bed and the Flowers of Virtue
Drawing on bridal mysticism, the text urges the reader to strew the bed of contemplation with the flowers of good works and virtues.
The same author says: 'Look — perhaps even the appeal itself and the rest of contemplation — and you do well. Only, don't forget the flowers with which the bed of the bride of the Law is strewn.' So take care, you likewise, to surround your own rest with the flowers of good works, with the exercise of virtues — as if with the flower of holy fruits — and thus to anticipate sacred leisure.
Textual Notes on the Sources
Editorial glosses identify the scriptural and patristic sources cited, including 1 Corinthians 15:9, Bernard of Clairvaux, and corrections to the source text.
Apostle — 1 Corinthians 15:9.✦ Bernard — On 'purifying.' Of fruits.
Read the original Latin
Dicit enim Bernardus ': " Intrante Jesu in hoc casteUum, duae sorores, Martha et Maria, id est operaUo et inteUectus, exceperuut illum. Jesus autem, cum ad illas venit, duo confert congruentia singuUs, virtutem et sapientiam: virtutem, operationi; sapientiam, inteUectui. Unde et ab ApostoUs ^ praedicatur Dei virtus, et Dei sapientia. Sed quid est, quod intrantem eum Martha excipit, discurrit et ministrat; Maria vero, secus pedes sedens ingressi, in ejus verbum cor suspendit, nisi quia prius est actio, postea vero contemplaUo? Quisquis enim ad inteUigenUam pervenire desiderat, profecto necesse est ut prius per opera bona se diUgenter exerceat, sicut scriptum est^: FiU, concupiscens sapientiarn, conserva justitiam, et Deus prashebit illam tibi. Et aUbi '*: A mandatis tuis intellexi. Et ': Fide purgans corda eorum. Qua fide?
Fide per dilecUonem operante. " Idem ^: " En forte appeUs et ipse contemplaUonis quietem; et bene facis: tantum, ne obUviscaris flores, quibus lectulum sponsas legis sparsum. Ergo cura et tu tuum simiUter circumdare bonorum floribus operum, virtutum exercitio, tanquam flore, fructuum sanctum otium praevenire. Apost. , XV, 9. Beru. , super pwificans. fructucn
Scripture echoes
- ↩Luke.10.38-Luke.10.42 — Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. Luke.10.39 — She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his word. Luke.10.40 — But Martha was distracted by much service. She came up and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." Luke.10.41 — But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.' Luke.10.42 — Few things are needed, or only one. For Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.
- ↩1Cor.1.24 — but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
- ↩Luke.10.39-Luke.10.42 — She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his word. Luke.10.40 — But Martha was distracted by much service. She came up and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." Luke.10.41 — But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.' Luke.10.42 — Few things are needed, or only one. For Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.
- ↩Acts.15.9 — and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
- ↩Gal.5.6 — For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any power; but only faith working through love.
- ↩1Cor.15.9 — For I am the least of the apostles, and not even worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Meditationes Vitae Christi (Pseudo-Bonaventure), Castilian court context companion
A scene a day, for life
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