“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

{My grandmother called to tell me she’d gotten an e-mail account. “Great,” I said. “Send me a message so I’ll have your e-mail address.” I waited and waited, but she never sent it. Several days later, an envelope arrived—Grandma had written her info on a piece of paper and mailed it to me.} (Meagan Lundgren, Calgary, Ontario)

The story of Mary and Martha is a story of conflict between the old and the new. Martha was acting in the manner that the old establishment of her culture and society expected her to act. If a teacher was teaching, it would be a man, and the women would be expected to serve the teacher and any other men listening to the teacher. Mary on the other hand was doing something new, and radical. Instead of assuming the role of the servant, she assumes the role of the student – sitting at the feet of the teacher – which would have been the place where only men would gather.

Martha was mailing it in with her works, but Mary was embracing the dawning of a “new thing” – the Grace of Jesus and his teachings. It is the beginning of a new way of relating to G-d – Jesus does not want our works, Jesus wants our ears, our eyes, our hearts and our very bodies in a relationship of faith. Of course, the church needs both Marthas and Marys. We need those who feel called to serve, and we need those who believe they are called to learn. Mary most likely will go on to serve just like her sister, Martha. And Martha will have the opportunity to listen and to learn just like Mary. Our discernment is to know when we should do one or the other – and to make sure our lives are balanced with both.

Pastor Dave