By Katie Patrick
Advent is upon us and up until a week ago, all I could think about was how to stop being such a Martha. Then my mom recommended a book to me by Joanna Weaver, “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World.” Some of you, I’m sure, have heard of it, and have read it.
Without discussing too much in detail the evolution of Mary and Martha in the Gospels, we know that by the end, Martha doesn’t stop preparing her home, sweeping the floors, or baking bread, but she does make time for prayer. And Mary doesn’t remain exclusively contemplative and at the feet of our Lord, because when she learns of his limited time on earth, she responds with urgency both in worship and in action.
Both responded in different ways to our Lord when he encountered them. As Weaver writes: “For it is impossible to be in the presence of Jesus and not be changed.”
Isn’t that the truth? I think of the times that I encounter Christ in the sacraments or in adoration and of course, after each of those experiences I am changed. “For it is impossible to be in the presence of Jesus and not be changed.”
It was music to my ears as I continued reading this book, because I learned that those of us who identify more with Martha (like me) can continue to live lives of “Kitchen Service,” but we must do so with a joyful heart and we must make time for our Lord. As we see in the Gospels, it isn’t Martha’s service that Jesus corrects, it’s her attitude and approach to the service that he simply redirects.
Weaver notes three simple principles of ministry in the life of Christ that can show us how to live our lives in fruitful Kitchen Service. Jesus ministered as he went on his way. Jesus ministered as he went out of his way. Jesus ministered in all kinds of ways.
In my remaining articles for this year, I will reflect on these three ways that Jesus ministered, by sharing stories with you of how I have witnessed those around me minister to others.
The first one is how Jesus ministered as he went on his way. We know from the Gospels that Jesus was pulled into many different directions throughout his ministry, often receiving pleas from frantic family members or sinners to work miracles.
Albert Maribaga, our refugee employment specialist, has been with Catholic Social Services for more than 10 years. Albert is originally from South Sudan and came to Lincoln as a refugee himself in 2000. Catholic Social Services helped him resettle by finding him an apartment and a job, and making sure he and his children were all cared for. As a single father, he was deeply appreciative of the help we offered.
He was so appreciative, in fact, that just a few years later, he came to work with us at Catholic Social Services. Albert worked in the refugee department, providing many of the same services that he received himself just a few years prior. At that time, Albert worked closely with Lost Boys of Sudan who were resettled in Lincoln. I’m sure many of you remember hearing about that in the news.
In 1987, civil war drove an estimated 20,000 young boys from their families and villages in southern Sudan. Many were pulled into the conflict by the northern army and made to serve as child soldiers; drugged and forced to commit many atrocities, while others fled to neighboring Ethiopia. Boys just 6 or 7 years old walked more than a thousand miles, half dying before reaching Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. The survivors are known as the Lost Boys. Almost 4,000 young men were resettled in the United States, including several dozen young men who came to Lincoln, Nebraska through Catholic Social Services.
This particular group of young men couldn’t have transitioned to life in Lincoln without Albert.
Yes, of course he had first-hand knowledge of the conflict and the terrible wounds it left on these young men, and yes, he had the lived experience of coming to the United States, to Lincoln as a refugee. But in addition to that, Albert lives his life by being open and available to those around him as he goes on his way. Clients and strangers are able to approach him, a trusting and kind-hearted man, who cares deeply— not just about securing their material needs, but he helps meet their interior needs as well: needs of encouragement, of peace, and of hope.
Outside of work, when he goes grocery shopping at the SuperSaver on 27th Street, he is often approached by clients. I remember him telling me once that when he was grocery shopping, he had his son with him, and clients who recognized him kept coming up and asking him about their job application, or where to pay their electric bill, or how much something at the grocery store costs.
His son turned to him and said, “Dad, who are all these people? Why are they talking to us?” Albert just laughed and explained to his son that they are the families he works with.
Our staff, our clients, and the community know that we can rely on Albert not just to help clients find meaningful work—which by the way, he does very well—but because no matter what Albert is doing or where he happens to be, he is always ministering to those in need as he goes on his way.
Stay tuned for next week, when I share a story with you about how Jesus ministered as he went out of his way. God bless you!
