The point of the story is to challenge our priorities so that we come to see that fellowship with the Lord … should always precede the work we do for the Lord.
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Christian life is a witness to Jesus Christ and his gospel message. This life of witnessing to Christ has two dimensions. The two dimensions are portrayed in Jesus’ encounter in the house of Martha and Mary in the Gospel of Luke 10:38-42.
In this episode, Jesus is invited to the home of Martha and Mary. Having received a guest in the home, Martha begins her hospitality services to make her guest happy. But her sister pays attention to the guest by staying with and paying attention to whatever he is saying. Because their guest is an old family friend, Martha petitions him to instruct her sister to help at the kitchen, thinking that Mary’s way of serving their guest is inferior to busying herself in the kitchen.
Jesus, the guest, responds in a surprising way by telling Martha that she worries about unimportant things and that Mary has chosen the better part which will not be taken away from her. Jesus is not scolding Martha; instead, he presents us with two dimensions of Christian/spiritual life, both of which are very important.
Every Christian must develop and live them out as true disciples. Jesus, in this episode, confronts us with both active and contemplative life.
In that contemplative mood, a Christian encounters God. The old God revealed himself to his people who contemplated his face. God continues to reveal himself to us in many ways: He reveals himself through others when we pay attention and contemplate the next person sitting by us. He reveals himself in the Scriptures, in our thoughts and in the events of our lives, provided we pay attention.
Mary and Martha both loved Jesus. On this occasion, they were both serving him. But Martha thought Mary’s style of serving was somehow inferior to hers. She didn’t realize that in her desire to serve, she was neglecting her guest. Martha was preoccupied with hospitality, while Mary gave her full attention to the guest himself. Mary’s quiet devotion displayed greater reverence for Jesus than Martha’s anxious toil. St. Gregory the Great explains it this way: “Mystically, the two women signify two dimensions of spiritual life. Martha signifies the active life as she busily labors to honor Christ through her work. Mary exemplifies the contemplative life as she sits attentively to listen and learn from Christ. While both activities are essential to Christian living, the latter is greater than the former. For in heaven the active life terminates, while the contemplative life reaches its perfection.”
Faithful disciple of Jesus, are you so busy doing things for Jesus that you are not spending any time with him? Don’t let service become self-serving. Jesus did not blame Martha for being concerned about household chores. He was only asking her to set priorities. Service to Christ can degenerate into mere busywork that is no longer full of devotion to God.
The point of the story of Jesus with Martha and Mary is not to invite us to choose between being a Martha or a Mary. The true disciple needs to be both Martha and Mary.
The point of the story is to challenge our priorities so that we come to see that fellowship with the Lord, being with the Lord and hearing his word should always precede the work we do for the Lord. To do the work of the Lord like Martha, one must first know the Lord of the work.
Do you have a program of daily fellowship with the Lord? Many people fulfill this by assisting daily in church worship, where they can pray and read the Word of God. Others schedule a holy hour or quiet time when they can pray and read the Word of God.
Whatever way you choose to fulfill this need, today’s gospel invites all Christians first to be a Mary who sits with devotion at the Lord’s feet listening to his word, and then also to be a Martha who throws herself with energy into the business of serving the Lord.
