![]() ![]() We want to provide for our families, we want to give our children every opportunity to enrich their lives, we want to serve our neighbors, and yes, we want to serve the Lord. It is true that much of our busyness and distraction stems from the noblest of intentions. And yet, as Jesus says in Luke 12:25, “Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?” We know that worrying does no good, and that much of what we worry about is not so important in the larger scheme of things, and yet we cannot seem to quell our anxious thoughts and frantic activity. Feeling pulled in different directions, feeling worried and distracted by many things - these seem to be common threads of life in our fast-paced world. Many people in our congregations likely identify with Martha. Preaching on this text may provide a rich opportunity to address this cultural malaise. ![]() In a culture of hectic schedules and the relentless pursuit of productivity, we are tempted to measure our worth by how busy we are, by how much we accomplish, or by how well we meet the expectations of others. The one thing needed is for Martha to receive the gracious presence of Jesus, to listen to his words, to know that she is valued not for what she does or how well she does it, but for who she is as a child of God. Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things there is need of only one thing. Jesus’ words to Martha may be seen as an invitation rather than a rebuke. How much more so when the guest is Jesus! So Jesus says that Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her. There is no greater hospitality than listening to your guest. She has missed out on the “one thing needed” for true hospitality. Martha’s worry and distraction prevent her from being truly present with Jesus, and cause her to drive a wedge between her sister and herself, and between Jesus and herself. She even goes so far as to accuse Jesus of not caring about her ( Lord, do you not care…?). In fact, she breaks all the rules of hospitality by trying to embarrass her sister in front of her guest, and by asking her guest to intervene in a family dispute. Martha’s distraction and worry leave no room for the most important aspect of hospitality - gracious attention to the guest. The word translated “distracted” in verse 40, periespato, has the connotation of being pulled or dragged in different directions. The problem with Martha is not her serving, but rather that she is worried and distracted. Certainly Jesus commends this kind of service to the neighbor many times, notably in the parable of the Good Samaritan that immediately precedes the story of Mary and Martha. The problem with Martha is not that she is busy serving and providing hospitality. ![]() * Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her” (10:41-42). Jesus’ response to Martha seems less than empathetic, chiding her for her distraction and worry, and praising Mary: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things there is need of only one thing. Many may also empathize with Martha’s resentment of her sister for leaving her to do all the work. Many who read or hear this story may cheer for Mary in her inversion of traditional roles. This pleasant story takes a sharp turn when Martha, distracted by her many tasks, comes to Jesus and asks, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me”(10:40). She assumes the posture of a student learning at the feet of a rabbi, a role traditionally reserved for men. Rather than assuming the role expected of women in her culture, she takes her place at the feet of Jesus. Meanwhile her sister Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, listening to his words. ![]() Although we are not told precisely what those tasks are, a good guess is that she began preparing a meal. She then busies herself with the tasks of serving their guest ( diakonian). When Jesus comes to Bethany, Martha demonstrates hospitality by welcoming Jesus into the home she shares with her sister Mary. Hospitality is exceedingly important in the biblical world in general and in Luke’s Gospel in particular. ![]()
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