Thank God for Marthas!
In the middle of July, a couple sisters woke up with a cough and some congestion. Just to be safe, they took a COVID test. It came back positive, and before we knew it, we were in the middle of a monastery COVID epidemic. Immediately everyone put on masks, and as soon as anyone tested positive or developed symptoms, they went into quarantine. Sisters kept disappearing until just a few were left standing. The Gospel reading for the Sunday in the midst of our epidemic was the story of Mary and Martha, where Martha complains to the Lord, “Do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving?” It quickly became the joke that the healthy sisters were our “Marthas” who were taking on all of the serving - cooking and cleaning, washing the dishes, answering the phones, and everything else it takes to keep a monastery running.
Everyone is well and healthy again, thanks be to God, and once everyone had come out of their quarantine, we wanted to thank our heroic ”Martha” sisters. We gave them a huge Thank You card with a “Martha Award,” and with our still-congested voices, we sang a song for them:
You are the all-time
best ever, world-wide
quit-never Marthas!
You took our turn
and cook and helper
and dish duty for us.
So we are grateful,
thankful, appreciative
and indebted.
We couldn’t have
asked for any better
Sisters when COVID hit.
But our sisters are not the only heroic Marthas we have to thank. In the Gospel, Martha complains, “Lord, do you not care?” God showed us clearly that he did care for our sisters left to do all the serving by the incredibly generous response of all of you who heard that we were sick. Somehow word got out that we were sick and in need, and we were overwhelmed by the immediate response. Sandwich platters, soup, pre-made meals, groceries, fruits and vegetables, paper products, and more came flowing in from everyone in Summit and beyond who heard that the nuns were sick - many of whom we had never met before. We could not have been more appreciative and touched by the kindness of all who reached out to help us. And so, if we could sing to YOU, we would!
You are the all-time
best ever, world-wide
quit-never Marthas!
You brought us soup and
and sandwiches and
meals and so much more.
So we are grateful,
thankful, appreciative
and indebted.
We couldn’t have
asked for any better
neighbors when COVID hit!
And so today, as we celebrate the feast of St. Martha, we remember you all with gratitude in our prayers. May God bless and reward you!
