Martha and Mary

Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’ Luke 10:38-42

I had three sisters, but we lost Pegi to cancer in 1990. I know what it is to struggle with a sister who is unwilling to help when work needs doing. I have always struggled with this story of Martha and Mary because Martha is portrayed as petty and focused on the tasks only. And I do understand how important it is to spend time in prayer and listening to the words of Jesus. On the other hand, the lived truth is that there are mouths to feed, things to be cleaned up, real work to be done. Loads of faithful people want to sit at the table and be fed, while few are willing to do the work it takes. Sometimes we need all the Marthas we can collect. And, there are times when we are called to sit and listen, drawing close to Jesus. We are all called to be Marthas and Marys, being willing to do the hard, tedious and unglamorous work. We are also called to sit and listen, refresh and be renew in the love of Christ. There are never to be worker bees and queens among us, but rather all of us should work together and be renewed together.

Gracious Creator, source of all renewal

you draw us close to your heart for healing

and you send us our into the wide world

to be the laborers in your great fields.

Too many of us believe we are the Marys

leaving the others to carry the heavy load

our egos and attitudes exclude getting dirty

and we miss the gifts that real labor provides.

Lord Jesus, help us be humble enough today

so that we may see when work needs doing

pitching in with great joy and full hearts

and see when you call us to be renewed in you. Amen.