Martha and Mary - the Good Part, the One Thing Needed

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

- Luke 10:38-42

Yesterday, we read the parable of the Good Samaritan. According to the early Church Fathers, this parable was often interpreted as an allegory to Christ and His saving mission in the world, but we can also see it as a teaching on what it means to truly be a neighbor -- and an expansion on the Great Commandments. It is given to us only in Luke's Gospel. See The Good Samaritan.

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. I love the stories about Martha and Mary. Not only do they give us some insight in the Gospels about the character and personality of different people who appear to us in them, but they also indicate the personal friendships of Jesus. Moreoever, as women, they give us the idea of the importance of women in Jesus' ministry. The difference in their character and personality is consistent throughout the stories that involve these two sisters. They are the sisters of Lazarus who will be raised from the dead. Together these sisters and their brother form a family whom we are told that Jesus loves; they are His great friends. And so, right away, we begin - in this short passage - with a description of two different people. Martha is the one concerned with hospitality: she is the one who has welcomed Jesus into her house. Mary shows a completely different aspect of character: she sits at Jesus' feet and "heard His word."

But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." I think perhaps it is important that we not diminish the importance of hospitality -- and the duties associated with hospitality -- in traditional roles of women, particularly in the Middle East. It's still an essential part of life, and of tradition. Elsewhere, when Jesus comes to Lazarus as he is ailing and then passes, it is Martha who comes out to greet Jesus -- again, as part of the duties of hospitality -- while Mary sits in mourning in the home (as proper custom dictated as well). So, the important thing here is not to diminish the duties of hospitality with which Martha is concerned. Martha's complaint, even today, would seem perfectly legitimate. But Mary is a completely different character, and her difference is in the thing she is doing, what she is concerned with. She wants to hear His word. She wants to sit at His feet.

And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." Martha is concerned with the duties of the household, and hospitality to this important guest. But Jesus emphasizes her trouble and worry, the anxiety with which her duties are burdening her to the point of agitation. We know that elsewhere He preaches against over-anxiety over the things of the world. But perhaps what we should see here is not Martha's agitation, but just exactly what Mary has chosen for herself. There are things that trump all the cares and anxieties of the world -- and Mary's care for this word draws her out, makes her different, someone who is not fitting in with the worldly role she may be assigned to play in life. In a sense we can see in Luke a similarity to yesterday's story of the Good Samaritan. Here, in effect, is another outsider, someone different from the norm or standard. And she is not conforming to proscribed "rules" of behavior. But it all depends on what it is that is drawing her out -- what it is that makes her different and that she is following within herself. She is following the love of the Lord and His word. And, just like the love and mercy of the Samaritan over whatever "rules" would bind daily behavior, Mary has chosen the one thing needful. She has chosen the good part, and that's what we concern ourselves with in this story.

How do we know what is good? What is it that draws us out, and may make us distinguished from others, even from the norm -- perhaps our gender roles or other standards of behavior in this world? We must consider, then, the importance of love and relationship in this story as it is derived from the love of the Good: that is, that which is intrinsically good, which is holy, which comes from God. When we look to our hearts, where is our treasure? It is the love of the truly good that must lead us, and will not be taken away from us - no matter what the appearance on the outside. Can you think of circumstances in which the "good part" is not necessarily obvious? Where does the love of the Word lead you? Elsewhere in the Gospel, we read of the love of women for what Jesus is offering -- and even when it may seem socially improper, love of the Good, of the source of Love, trumps all. How does the "good part" lead you, the one thing needed? Perhaps there are all sorts of accepted ways of serving the Lord, but a true love of His word in our hearts - that place where we listen - is the good part, the one thing needed. Even if it makes us different. Where does discipleship take you?