Martha & Mary: Two Significant Sisters

Perhaps Martha and Mary seems so different that we wonder they could come from the same family. Investigation shows us there is nothing unusual about daughters being different. Today we think we can explain differences by psychological investigation. Primarily we can only really know people be relating and inter-relating to them and not just by observing them. We must also take into account that God makes each person unique and also that He never makes them to be individuals. In relationships we can become what we can be: out of relationships this is impossible. We are given an identity
by God (cf. Rev. 2:17; 3:12; cf. 7:3; 14:4; 22:4), especially as we are baptised into Him (Matt. 28:20), and identity relates to vocation and goal (telos). We ought not to compare Martha and Mary but see them as sisters and as each having her ‘particularity' or ‘differentiation' with a view to knowing and serving God and others. The variety of
temperaments, dispositions, gifts and talents God gives are for richness in sharing life.