Dear Rehoboth,

This morning I have spent some time in another familiar passage, the story of Mary and Martha. Whenever this passage is brought up, people love to put themselves into one camp or the other. There are the busybodies like Martha and the contemplative ones like Mary. I’m not sure there is anything profound about the statement I’m about to make, but I find it interesting that I have never heard a man call themselves a Mary or a Martha. I’m not sure if they aren’t willing to be called by female names or is it because men think this is a problem that only women face. The problem of choosing duty over listening. I’m not positive but maybe something for us to think on this week is what about this story should speak to all of us instead of just a story about women’s roles. 

One of the main questions for us to ponder this week is what is Jesus actually criticizing. Is it the fact that Martha is hospitable? I don’t think that’s it. Is it that Martha is chastising her sister for not helping? Maybe, but probably not. Or is it because she is full of worry? I think that’s what Jesus is truly concerned about. Martha is worried about all the work that needs to get done. She is worried that she won’t be able to please God. She is worried that some people will go without food. She is worried that some may not feel welcome. She is worried that Jesus may not feel welcomed. She is worried that there are others that are not joining in on the work. She is even worried that she may miss a lesson of Jesus. She is consumed by worry. Now, here’s the problem that I see. It’s not that any of those worries are not justifiable. We should be worried about all those things. Those are major concerns in our world. But the problem is that all of our worrying and rushing around will be for nothing unless we take the time to sit at the feet of our Lord. Unless we take the time to give these worries to the one who can actually do something about it. Jesus isn’t upset that Martha is trying to provide for everyone. No, he is upset that she hasn’t recognized that at this moment, she needs to rest in the lord. 

Now before you go and yell at all those Martha’s in your life and praise yourself for being a Mary, I think last week’s story sheds some important light on this passage. Last week we read about the good Samaritan. A story about helping people. The story of Mary and Martha is not a story about being Mary and not Martha, but it is a story about recognizing when we need to be Mary and when we need to be Martha, when we need to jump into the ditch and when we need to reconnect with God. When we need to be busying ourselves with tasks, and when we need to be praying, the scriptures say faith without action is dead. If we only sit at the feet, we fail to serve. To serve without sitting at the feet is to fall into a life of worry. The worries of this world are great, but they are no match for Jesus.

 This may sound like you already got a sermon this week, but I think we have a lot to think on this week such as why we pit Mary and Martha against each other. We need to think about what it means to provide hospitality in this world. And most importantly I think we need to think about what it means to listen to spirit about when we should sit at the feet and when we should jump in the ditches. The story of Mary and Martha gives us a beautiful picture of discipleship. If I can add one last point its that I think we have too many Mary’s in this world. Even those that call themselves Marthas are still religiously Marys. What does this story say to you this week? Do you see any ways we can better understand the need for balance in this life? Please let me know what you are thinking this week.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Lee