Perhaps it is because even today’s women remain primarily responsible for the running of a household and the hospitality extended to guests, that the sharpest criticism to the story of Martha and Mary in Luke’s Gospel (10:38-42) is often voiced by women. This criticism can run something like:
“That’s easy for Jesus to say. But, I bet He would sing a different song if nothing was on the table.” OR
“I work hard feeding my family and welcoming guests. Isn’t what I do important to the Lord?”
However, this reading really has nothing to do with either of these comments. Neither is this verse saying that prayer or faith is greater than works. Both are very important.
The Gospels speak highly of faith:
- The faith of the Syrophoenician woman is applauded by Jesus when she persists in requesting the healing of her daughter even after Jesus tells the woman that it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs (Mk 7:24-30); and
- Jesus is amazed at the faith of the Roman soldier who seeks healing for his servant, but does not require Jesus to journey to his home (Mt 8:5-13).
Yet, Jesus also speaks highly of actions:
- Those who feed the hungry and help those in need will be rewarded in the Kingdom of Heaven (Mt 25: 31-46); and
- The Good Samaritan is praised for his neighborly and loving acts to one deemed an enemy, but recognized only as one in need (Lk 10:29-37).
In fact, it is this moral and story of the Good Samaritan that leads right into the Gospel reading we are discussing today.
It would then seem that Jesus, within just five (5) verses, is completely contradicting Himself:
- In the Good Samaritan, Jesus seems to teach us that it is most important to act as a good neighbor and not just be people of faith like the Levite and priest who ignored the injured man at the side of the road. BUT
- In today’s reading, Jesus seems to teach us that it is more important to sit and listen to Jesus in faith then it is to be hospitable in serving the Lord.
Wow! What’s a person to do?
This mess can be easily straightened out if we remember that Martha, Mary and Lazarus were not your run of the mill followers of Jesus. They were rather well-to-do. There were servants available to clean the house, cook the meals, and extend the basic hospitality to Jesus. Jesus would not have gone hungry, even if Martha had not opted to run the kitchen.
So, why did Martha do it? I think we must assume that Martha was acting, at least initially, with the best of intentions. She desired to make the dinner special; to offer her best for the Lord. In Martha’s heart, the best gift she could give to the Lord, to demonstrate her faith, were her talents as cook and hostess. Indeed, these are fine gifts.
However, as the dinner wore on, Martha got tired. She noticed her sister, Mary, was not helping. In Martha’s mind, Mary was not doing anything. Mary, however, was giving her own gift of seeking the Lord and being present in faith. Since Martha failed to recognize this alternate gift, she grew resentful and jealous.
This story reminds me of a similar story included in the book: He and I. This book includes Gabrielle Bossis’ reflections of communications or messages she received from Jesus in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. In one (1) such reflection, Jesus tells this story:
“A man had two daughters both devoted to him. The elder was actively engaged in her father’s business not only for the love of him but also for the love of work, which wholly absorbed her attention. The other daughter was so closely united with her father, her mind constantly in tune with his, that her work never hindered her from thinking of him with ever-increasing tenderness. Which of these two daughters, do you think, was the greater comfort to her father?
“….Believe this, and you will come to Me more sincerely and gaily (you notice how I repeat that word [- gaily]) because you will realize that you give me joy.”[1]
Jesus looks to our intent, when we either respond in faith or act in service.
It was Mary’s unselfish and loving intent that was the better part:
- She did not resent the alternate gifts as expressed by her sister;
- Throughout the story, her good intent never changes; and
- She was wholly with the Lord.
In this way, the message of today’s reading remains consistent with that of the Good Samaritan.
Martha’s actions were not bad. I am sure that, at least initially, her intent was very good. It was only when she lost sight of her pure intention and failed to recognize that others might offer different, but equally precious gifts to the Lord that she faltered.
I hope that we, too, may choose the better part. That we, like Mary, might learn to lovingly recognize and use our own gifts for the glory of God’s Kingdom, but always recognize and allow the varied, but equally precious gifts of others to flourish as well.
[1] Bossis, Gabrielle, He and I, p. 341 (Sherbrooke, QC (Canada): Editions Mediaspaul, 1969) (Emphasis added).
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