,,The thought must always be directed toward God and toward divine things. Everything that contradicts these rules, no matter how great it may be, must nevertheless be considered of secondary importance, if not even of little significance and harmful.
This idea is embodied very well by the Gospel about Martha and Mary: Martha performs a holy service, as one who was serving the Lord and His disciples, while Mary, who had dedicated herself to the teaching of Jesus, sitting at His feet... was more appreciated by the Lord, because she had chosen the best part, which no one could take away from her...
See then that the Lord considered that the highest good is prayer or divine contemplation, since we see that all other virtues should be put in a secondary place, although we admit that they are necessary, useful, and very good, because they are done for the sake of this single thing. He considered as the highest good not the practical part, no matter how laudable and full of fruit it might be, but divine contemplation, which indeed is simple and unique; saying that few things are necessary for full happiness... When He says: Mary has chosen the good part, although He remains silent about Martha and does not seem to rebuke her, by praising the former, it follows that He considers the latter inferior.
Also, when He says: which shall not be taken away from her, He shows that Martha's part could be taken away (for bodily help cannot remain permanently with man), but He teaches us that the service of the former can never end. According to her way of being, Martha prepared a generous meal, although a simple one would have been enough. Our Savior was more interested in food for the soul than in food for the body. Martha, however, becomes troubled and distracted. Perhaps the visit was unexpected, and the guests too many?
Nevertheless, Jesus speaks to Martha gently, with a nuance of pity, saying that she is excessively busy. Jesus did not condemn Martha's work, nor did he speak pejoratively about housekeeping and hospitality, but He noted her excessive attention to material preparation, because this: 1. troubled her peace of mind; 2. led to criticism of Jesus and her sister; 3. deprived her of the benefit of receiving the Lord's teaching. He passes easily and quickly from natural things to spiritual things. Choosing the good part, Mary could neither be blamed nor could the benefit obtained be taken away from her. Thus, He could not agree with Martha's request that Mary take part in an inferior calling."
The Great Synaxarion of the month of June, doxologia .ro