MARY AND MARTHA

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:38–42

The story of Mary and Martha in the Gospel of Luke has fascinated me from a very young age. As the oldest of many children, with one of the best “Marthas” on record for a mother, I felt born and bred to be a “Martha,” that is, someone in the background doing the work that needs to be done. Whenever I hear this story I cringe, as I identify so completely with Martha – not because I wouldn’t like to sit at Jesus’ feet and do the one thing needful (or even just take a load off), but because I am always so acutely aware that there are things to be done when hospitality is called for. Martha’s frustration and resentment toward Mary are something I’ve, er, felt before. Gatherings need organization, food doesn’t prepare or serve itself, and most unfortunate of all, there is no magical clean-up fairy. How did Jesus expect to eat, if everyone was to be singularly listening to him, basking at his feet?

In this story, it’s clear that Martha isn’t being

Keidi Lewis

chastised for serving, or for the hospitality she extends to Jesus in her home. She is reprimanded for being distracted, worried, and troubled, which according to St. Cyril in his commentary on the story, make her labors in vain. The Orthodox Study Bible commentary says that, “Martha was distracted and troubled about many things in providing hospitality for Jesus. But the one thing needed was for her to listen to Christ, to hear His words – a priority that certainly does not exclude serving Him.” That last sentence zinged me. The one thing needed is to listen to Christ, to hear His words. Then, from a place of love for God and our neighbor, we may summarily be called upon to serve.

When I have expressed dismay at being so concretely a Martha, I’ve been reminded that Martha is a saint as well as Mary. The important fact of Martha’s sainthood was probably highlighted years ago by parishes with parishioners who were “too worshipful” (and consequently hungry). There is a place in the church for Marthas. There’s a place, too, for those like me: Martha-leaning volunteers, who sometimes find themself scrubbing pots after church events muttering under their breath, “What do Marys actually do?” I can recognize that there’s a place in the church for Marys, as well.

The task is not to figure out if one is a Mary or a Martha and stay complacently within our own expectation of how we approach God and our church parish. Our task is, first, to pay attention to what we are doing in the presence of God, and to remember that distraction and worry interfere with our labors – even make them in vain. Our task, secondly, is to stay focused on Jesus and our own contact with

Him, rather than worry about someone else’s relationship and interaction. A focus on Jesus should keep us from putting ourselves and others on the scales of comparison. Thirdly, our task is to serve joyfully, out of love for God. If resentment is building or we are keeping score about who does what, then we need to take a critical look at our serving. If resentment has affected our servant hearts, confession and repentance are the tools we are given to restore us to joyful giving – giving that comes from the love of God pouring out of our hearts.

We should all be both Mary and Martha: we should both sit at Jesus’ feet, and serve Him. People inclined to be Marthas can practice more Marylike interactions with God, and simply be more, attend liturgies and services, read the Bible, and sit in silence to experience listening to Christ. People who have Mary-tendencies can get familiar with the church kitchen and wash some dishes once in a while, or participate in a workday. Churches need maintenance, church grounds need care, ministries need ministers, and church members need help from time to time. There is plenty of serving to do as a part of the body of Christ. We all should do both. If you are tempted in weak moments to sigh that some people do neither, may I direct your attention back to the second task I identify above.

I come by my Martha-like qualities honestly. My mom’s favorite saying was: “Find a need and fill it.” She trained her kids to see needs and participate in taking care of them. We all knew without a doubt that “many hands make light work.” I am passing this legacy of Martha on to my children, starting them young. Caring for our church and community is one way I show my kids the importance of God’s Kingdom. I also need to pass on the legacy of Mary. Participating in the liturgical life of the church, connecting to Christ without distraction or worry, and placing myself at the feet of Jesus are ways to worship that emulate Mary. May we raise children to embrace both saints and their example for living as Orthodox Christians. It is the story, after all, of Mary and Martha, not Mary or Martha. We are all called serve, we are all called to worship, we are all seeking to listen to Christ – the one thing needed.

Keidi Lewis