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

 

 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 that a certain lawyer stood up and tested Jesus, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"  He said to him, "What is written in the law?  What is your reading of it?"  So he answered and said, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'"  And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."  But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"  Then Jesus answered and said, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.  Now by chance a certain priest came down that road.  And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was.  And when he saw him, he had compassion.  So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.  On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.'  So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?"  So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.  On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.'  So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?"  And he said, "He who showed mercy on him."  Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

 

 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."    As we remember especially from John's Gospel, Mary and Martha are the sisters of Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead (John 11).   In each encounter in the Gospels with these sisters, we see distinct understanding of personality and character.   These two sisters and their brother are beloved friends to Jesus.  My study bible comments that Martha is not rebuked by Jesus for serving, but rather for complaining and being distracted, worried, and troubled.   Through following Christ, it says, we serve in order to facilitate the spread of the gospel (see Acts 6:1-4).  

The most interesting thing about the stories involving Martha and Mary is possibly how different these sisters are, and how each is essential.  While it is clear that Mary is certainly protected and loved by Christ because of her deep love of the gospel message, Martha is equally necessary to the full picture of what it takes for the Kingdom to be present in the world.  In all the stories involving these sisters, Martha is the one conscious of performing the duties of hospitality, whether that be here, or when their brother Lazarus has passed and she goes out to greet Christ as He approaches their home, while Mary sits inside performing the duties of mourning (John 11:20-32).  But when Jesus refers to that "good part" and the "one thing" that "is needed," He affirms that Mary's devotion is an example to all.  That is, she is living the call of the first great commandment which Jesus mentioned in yesterday's reading:  "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind" (Deuteronomy 6:5).  She puts this first.   We might say that Martha's hospitality exemplifies the second great commandment that Jesus names; that is, to love "your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18).  But we must go back to the story of Martha and Mary with their brother Lazarus to understand Jesus' emphasis here, that without a love of God in our hearts, we will little understand how to love neighbor as oneself.  For it is God who is love, and God who must teach us how to love (1 John 4:8).  The proclamation of the gospel is precisely one of this restoration of communion which renews all things.   It is within the power of that grace that we receive a transcendent realization that reconciles all within itself.  Right now in this world hateful war rages, genocidal crimes are committed upon civilians.  How will such things be reconciled?   There is always need for the power of God which reaches beyond what we understand and know on worldly terms.  Let us not be afraid even under such circumstances to call upon that "good part" which shall not be taken away from Mary.  We, like Martha, can be worried and troubled about many things.  But there is one "good part," through all things, which we must choose for ourselves.  Ironically, it is the one thing that cannot be taken away from us, for He has affirmed that He will lose none of what is given to Him from the Father (John 6:39).