In this gospel story I think poor Martha is given a bit of a hard time. After all, Jesus says that Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be denied her. And what do we then conclude about the part that Martha has chosen? Another way to look at this is to put yourself in Martha’s shoes. Jesus shows up at your door – would you have the presence of mind and the willingness to throw open the door and invite him in? Regardless of the readiness or what’s in the refrigerator? Maybe there is a thing or two to learn from Martha for our own spiritual enrichment
True hospitality is always in style. Welcoming people into your home is a gift – a gift worth sharing, whether the place is pristine and decorated to perfection or not. Because true hospitality wraps a person up in a graceful hug and makes them feel special. Never mind the dust bunnies or the random socks.
And hospitality is something you and I can do right now. We can open our homes and our hearts to the family next door with the noisy dogs, to the couple that sits right behind us in church, or to the people we chat with at the gym. What’s the worst that could happen? You cement a new friendship and enjoy a moment of grace together.
Comparison only breeds anxiety and discontent. As the Mary/Martha story unfolds, we find Mary smack in the middle of the living room, sitting with the men, soaking up Jesus’s words. Martha? Well, she’s scurrying around the kitchen like a whirlwind. This woman is on a mission and will not stop until all of the guests are well satisfied.
But there’s just one problem: here’s poor Martha trying to serve dinner for a large crowd without help. I would be a bit frustrated, too. Martha’s discontent begins when she compares her current situation to someone else’s and realizes she’s holding the short straw. Sound familiar? When we look at other situations and see people with more comfort, better jobs, fewer challenges… how often does discontent arrive on our doorstep? What we see is never the full story. When we look at someone else’s life, we only catch a snapshot. And just like the smiling Christmas photo that never hints at the pre-pose argument or the toddler’s screaming fit right afterward, we miss the rest of the story too.
Truth is, no matter how it looks on the outside, God is at work in every story. No two stories are exactly the same. And comparison doesn’t change her story or yours. It just steals your joy.
When you’re struggling, go to the best Source first. Frustrated as she is, she wastes no time. She knows exactly who can fix things. Martha marches right up to the highest authority in the room and commands Jesus, “Tell her to help me.” There’s something to be said for knowing who can help. Sometimes we can be tempted to share our problems with everyone else –when the wisest thing to do is to approach the One who can actually fix things first. Martha knew what she was doing.
You can tell Jesus anything. How interesting that Jesus doesn’t rebuke Martha for her words. Jesus accepts Martha where she is, as she is, and listens to her tirade without batting an eye. God who doesn’t get offended when you come to Him in the middle of emotional upheaval. He won’t mind if you tell Him exactly what you’re feeling. He loves you and wants to hear about the difficulties you are facing.
The path to peace begins with one thing. After Martha says her piece, Jesus offers her the path to peace. Jesus tells 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 10:41). Clearly it wasn’t the response she was hoping for, but it might have been exactly what she needed to hear. We don’t know the rest of the story.
We know that Martha appears again in the Gospel of John when Jesus arrives at the house because Martha’s brother Lazarus has died. What does Martha say?
“When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. [But] even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” (John 11:20-22)
That’s an expression of faith! Martha figured it out – and it won’t be taken from her.
Image credit: “Christ at the home of Martha and Mary” | Charles de La Fosse | Private collection in a castle in Lorraine (France); Galerie Didier Chéreau, Paris | PD-US