10:38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.
10:39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying.
10:40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me."
10:41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things;
10:42 there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."
Willimon is the current blogger for the Christia Century's Theolog. His post for this text focuses more on Jesus than on Mary and Martha. I think I like that approach. Click here to read his full version.
Here's a good quote:
On his way to his costly work in Jerusalem, Jesus has paused for an evening with these two women. Whatever work he is doing, he has decided to do that work with the two of them. He disrupts the home—a place of refuge, retreat and renewal. Then he claims the home—where two women work and care for the needs of each other—as space where he cares for them. He seeks out, speaks to and instructs women, who are often relegated to the private space of the home, confined within the boundaries of domesticity. He treats them as full-fledged disciples, giving them himself and his teaching without reserve.
So, as I agree with Willimon, I think a good strategy for preaching this text would be to proclaim Jesus as showing up in our homes or wherever we are and being with us. It would be good also to talk about the confrontational ways of Jesus too. When he shows up in our homes, what does he do or say that make us want to kill him? As well, proclaim the boundary-crossing Jesus who seeks out the over-looked or excluded.
One can't overlook Jesus's praise of Mary though. This picture of her, sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to him is helpful for us as we ask our what-must-I-do-to-inherit-eternal-life questions: How should I be as a Christian? What should I do: Show mercy (like the Good Samaritan) and sit at the feet of Jesus (like Mary). His presence-- showing up in our homes and lives-- is enough to restore us.
8 comments:
Test from Joash
Yes, one cannot overlook the praise of Mary - and yet I think that one thing to do with this story is to avoid seeing it as Mary AGAINST Martha.
The context of the story makes it clear that Martha's service is not to be denigrated. The point is that Mary has chosen the better part, not that Martha has wasted her time. (She might be a bit overwrought here or something... but the hospitality is not bad...)
Mary W Anderson has some good lines from her sermon
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=635
"Theologically speaking, hospitality is vital. Not because of the food -- how much there is and what is served is inconsequential. A little unleavened bread and a cup of wine will do in most cases, because what truly brings us together is the word."
". . . . the purpose of hospitality is to prepare a welcoming space for encounters with God's word."
I have a sense that we should "gladly hear and learn" from God's word, so that, when we venture forth in service, our serving will not be resentful or distracted, but grounded in love.
by the way, thanks for your input Joash
test II
Thanks for your enouragement- underminer- your sarcasism exceedeth mine. Yes, martha's serving isn't the problem- it's her distraction- being pulled apart in many directions! It's usually the tyranny of the tyranny of the urgent that keeps me from the one needful thing- listening to Jesus voice, the word.
Story- a man was taking a safari trip to what was the Belgian Congo. The group traveled hard and fast for several days. As the man woke up early the next day to continue, he noticed the native guides were just sitting around. When asked why they weren't getting ready to go, they answered "We have traveled so fast our bodies have gotten ahead of our souls..."
Another illustration I've used- sometimes when we pray at dinner we say "come Lord Jesus be our guest and let these gifts to us be blest..." we think we are the hosts and Jesus is the guest...maybe we should pray "come Lord Jesus be our host for it is you we need the most!"
Nouwen-"In solitude we become aware that being is more than having, that we are worth more than the result of our efforts. We are not what we conquer, but what is given to us"
Maybe that why were called human beings rather than human doings.
Oh grasshopper, Mr Underminer, here are precious gems you can polish and stick in your exegetical underwear!Wisdom from the highline descends to the lowline!
btw oh great Joash
Nice family pic in the Thrivent mag
I'd say we're all glad those kids are beautiful like their mom!!!!
That and I'd like to add that not only is Martha distracted by her tasks, she's serving in such a way that she becomes resentful of the other who doesn't serve like her. Kinda like the guy who resents those C & E Christians, etc.
Could sitting at Jesus' feet and hearing the word help take one's eyes off the faults of your neighbor and bring greater joy to service?
Good point Unde, about resentment. Now you're getting personal.
PS who said I was the father of all those beautiful kids? Dost thou resent that me and mine are in a world class magazine? the cream does float to the top! I resent that they didn't quote me once- what's up with that? Now that i've got my 15 min I'm boycotting that trashy magazine
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