We need a pair of legs to walk

As a Christian, we need to pray and work (ora et labora) together. Lacking either one, our Christian life is lame. We need a pair of legs to walk. Of course, if you don't need to walk, say you have wings, you need a pair of wings to fly. This is the "fearful symmetry" popular scientists like to talk about. There is a certain amount of truth in it.

Greek philosophers, such as Aristotle, taught the mean in moral actions. Pushing things to either of two extremes will definitely end up in disasters. We are advised to steer across the middle course, the mean. For example, being a coward or an impulsive person cannot be a moral person. The middle course is courage. However, ancient Chinese philosophers taught 中庸之道", which is usually wrongly translated into the Middle Way. It is a big mistake because the 中 does not mean middle. Rather it means hit the mark, being impartial etc. For the Chinese, the Middle Way is not static. It is not always there. It is dynamic. When the situation changes, the Middle Way changes accordingly. For ethical purists, especially those Kantians who dislike "situational ethics", this Chinese "Middle Way" is too "prudent", too pragmatic to be meaningful at all. However, let me assure you that for Chinese morality, there are higher values than life. They are Benevolence 仁 and Justice 義. That is to say, in order to bring benevolence or justice to the others, Chinese moralists are willing to give up their life when the situation demands. The Greeks used a spatial image of the middle between two extremes. The Chinese used an archery imagery, something similar to Paul's teaching in the Romans when he says that sin is missing the mark, falling short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

Indeed, Jesus was impartial. Between active life and contemplative life, Jesus passes no judgment. Though it seems that Jesus shows preference to Mary's choice, again, it is a happy misunderstanding. Let's read again.
"one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:42)
What kind of a girl was THIS Mary? Was she always a contemplative? Was she the sinful woman who anointed Jesus in Simon, the Pharisee's house (Luke 7:36-50)? Surely she did not appear to be as outspoken as her elder sister Martha in John 11. Indeed, we have no evidence to make Mary a contemplative except for this one verse 10:39.
I prefer seeing Mary, the younger sister an energetic active girl most of the time. She needed to be more contemplative. When Jesus came, she did it. That is to say, Mary did the right thing at the right time. This is the true meaning of the Chinese "Middle Way".

Dear Lord, teach us not to despise either way of life. Help us do the right thing at the right time, like what Mary did. Amen.