As we find ourselves with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem, we come to what has always been one my least favorite texts. Yes, you read that right, one of my least favorite (and unlike my “favorite” texts, I don’t have very many least favorites).
It’s the familiar story of the sisters Mary and Martha. Jesus stops at their house somewhere along his journey to Jerusalem. And as soon as Jesus, and his disciples, enter the house, Martha busies herself with the work of hospitality – cleaning, organizing, cooking, and serving. And Mary, meanwhile, sits at Jesus’ feet, listening to all he says with rapt attention and paying no attention to her harried sister.
We have no idea how long this lasts. Although I have a very clear image of Martha in the kitchen banging pot lids in an attempt to express her displeasure. But eventually she boils over, storms into the other room to confront Jesus, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.”
And Jesus responds, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her.”
We often read Jesus’ words with a scolding tone, as if Jesus is chiding Martha’s service and celebrating Mary’s devotion. We often read Jesus’ words as a celebration of quiet prayer and study and a rebuke of acts of service and hospitality.
We read Jesus’ words as if one must be better than the other.
Maybe because I would consider myself more like Martha, I find myself bristling at the suggestion. After all, just before Jesus arrives at Mary and Martha’s house, he tells a parable about doing good and loving our neighbor. The parable seems to scream, “Don’t just stand there, or don’t just pass by on the other side, do something!”
And so, somehow our understanding of Jesus’ words to Martha must take into consideration all the other places in the Gospels that Jesus calls his disciples to action, rather than standing by, waiting for someone else to take care of it.
My point isn’t that we ignore Jesus’ words, we also must take seriously what he says to Martha. But I wonder if, over the years, we’ve created two binary categories that Jesus never intended. Have we made Mary and Martha out to be opposites, incompatible with one another?
Because Jesus’ life and ministry has elements of both Mary and Martha. He escapes to the mountain to pray. And he heals the sick. He goes off by himself to rest. And he gathers in community.
Maybe we need both. Maybe we need both Mary and Martha. Because there is more than one way to encounter Jesus.
Grace and peace,
Kimmy
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