MARY AND MARTHA Keidi Lewis
Now it happened as chastised for serving, or they went that He enfor the hospitality she extered a certain village; tends to Jesus in her home. and a certain woman She is reprimanded for benamed Martha weling distracted, worried, and comed Him into her troubled, which according house. And she had a to St. Cyril in his comsister called Mary, who mentary on the story, make also sat at Jesus’ feet and her labors in vain. The Orheard His word. But thodox Study Bible comMartha was distracted mentary says that, “Martha with much serving, and was distracted and troushe approached Him bled about many things in and said, “Lord, do You providing hospitality for not care that my sisJesus. But the one thing ter has left me to serve needed was for her to lisalone? Therefore tell her The Virgin with Martha and Mary c. 1912-13, attributed to Vasily Pavlovich ten to Christ, to hear His to help me.” And Jesus Gurianov (1867-1920) words – a priority that ceranswered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you tainly does not exclude serving Him.” That last senare worried and troubled about many things. tence zinged me. The one thing needed is to listen But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen to Christ, to hear His words. Then, from a place of that good part, which will not be taken away love for God and our neighbor, we may summarily from her.” – Luke 10:38–42 be called upon to serve. When I have expressed dismay at being so conThe story of Mary and Martha in the Gospel of Luke has fascinated me from a very young age. cretely a Martha, I’ve been reminded that MarAs the oldest of many children, with one of the tha is a saint as well as Mary. The important fact best “Marthas” on record for a mother, I felt born of Martha’s sainthood was probably highlighted and bred to be a “Martha,” that is, someone in the years ago by parishes with parishioners who were background doing the work that needs to be done. “too worshipful” (and consequently hungry). There Whenever I hear this story I cringe, as I identify so is a place in the church for Marthas. There’s a place, completely with Martha – not because I wouldn’t too, for those like me: Martha-leaning volunteers, like to sit at Jesus’ feet and do the one thing need- who sometimes find themself scrubbing pots after ful (or even just take a load off ), but because I am church events muttering under their breath, “What always so acutely aware that there are things to be do Marys actually do?” I can recognize that there’s a done when hospitality is called for. Martha’s frus- place in the church for Marys, as well. The task is not to figure out if one is a Mary or a tration and resentment toward Mary are something I’ve, er, felt before. Gatherings need organization, Martha and stay complacently within our own exfood doesn’t prepare or serve itself, and most un- pectation of how we approach God and our church fortunate of all, there is no magical clean-up fairy. parish. Our task is, first, to pay attention to what we How did Jesus expect to eat, if everyone was to be are doing in the presence of God, and to remember that distraction and worry interfere with our labors singularly listening to him, basking at his feet? In this story, it’s clear that Martha isn’t being – even make them in vain. Our task, secondly, is to stay focused on Jesus and our own contact with 34 November - December 2023
