January 19, 2023 – “Martha vs Mary”

“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

“If you’ve been in church for any amount of time, you’re familiar with this phenomenon: There’s Team Mary and Team Martha. Like dueling soccer teams or dueling sides in a shipper war, everyone takes sides and you’re either one or the other, ESPECIALLY if you’re a woman.” (Mary, Martha, and everyone we know, redshoesfunnyshirt.com)

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. Oh the controversy.

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. It does not matter if we are male or female, nonbinary or cisgender, white or black, Jesus wants all of us.

Yes 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.

Let us pray: Dear G-d, give me the wisdom to discern when I should do your work and when I should sit and listen to your word. Amen.

Pastor Dave