Hi First Presbyterian,
It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! My whole family has COVID except for one of my kids. As my wife and I have tried to do everything possible to keep our one remaining healthy family member from getting it, it has required her and me to swap some of our more normal family and household responsibilities. In other words, I’ve been doing some things Laura usually does, and she’s been doing some things I usually do. For some reason, this “role reversal” has had me thinking about a story from the Gospel of Luke about roles and responsibilities – the story of Mary and Martha.
In Luke 10:38-42, we see Jesus coming to the village of Bethany and being hosted in the home of Mary and Martha. For an itinerate preacher like Jesus, this hospitality was important. Mary and Martha show up periodically in the stories of the Gospels, because Jesus probably stayed with them whenever he came to Jerusalem (as Bethany is just a few miles away). In our story, Mary sits at Jesus’ feet and listens to him teaching, while Martha goes about her “tasks” (in Greek, this seems to refer to the household responsibilities associated with hospitality – cooking and serving). Martha is upset with what Mary has chosen to do, and complains to Jesus about it. Jesus essentially tells Martha, “Leave Mary alone.”
Interpreters of this passage have often said (I think, wrongly) that this passage teaches us that there are two kinds of people in the church: those that care more about acts of service and administration (the Marthas) and those that care about spiritual devotion to God (the Marys). Presbyterian “Marthas” might be more concerned about committee structures, church traditions, and doing behind-the-scenes work for the church. They might also be Deacons and Trustees. Presbyterian “Marys” might be more concerned about prayer, Bible study, and preaching. They might also be Elders or Pastors. Since it seems that Jesus prefers Mary's work over Martha's, we’ve been told that we should strive to be more like Mary not Martha. As a result of this kind of interpretation of this passage, I’ve heard people in churches admit with a little embarrassment that they are “Marthas.” However, I do not think that is what this passage is teaching us at all!
Just before this passage, Luke told us the story of the Good Samaritan (10:25-37), which is a story that encourages us to break down the barrier between insiders and outsiders (in that case, Jews and Samaritans). In this story of Mary and Martha, we are encouraged to break down the barrier between men and women. Let me explain.
In the ancient world, gender roles were very prescribed and even physical spaces were established as male spaces and female spaces. This was true in the Jewish Temple, which had a separate courtyard just for men and a separate courtyard for men and women. This was also true in the Jewish home. There was often a main “public” room in the home, which, although it was “public,” was just for men. Only the rooms that were unseen by visitors (rooms like the kitchen) were for women. Men and women did not share mixed company in the home – with the exception to the married couple’s bedroom and the areas immediately outside the home (the “backyard,” in essence). So what Mary was doing by sitting at Jesus’ feet – a posture that was designated for men who were students (see Acts 22:3) – was crossing social boundaries and even scandalous.
Understood this way, Martha’s complaint isn’t necessarily that she’s doing all the hard work while Mary is simply lying around listening to Jesus. No, her complaint is: “Mary, you are a woman like me. How dare you sit in the men’s area with Jesus! You need to know your role!” But what does Jesus tell Martha? I’ll paraphrase what Jesus says in response: “Martha, what Mary has chosen is good, and no one should take that away from her.” Wow! Jesus disregards the social expectation! A radical action from Mary is followed up by an equally radical endorsement of her action by Jesus!
People are so quick to judge who is qualified or called to do certain things. This passage from Luke tells us that Jesus is for everyone and that all should have access to his love and grace. The reality is, the work that Martha was doing (of supporting and sponsoring the work of Christ) was necessary and important. Likewise, the work that Mary was doing (of learning from Christ and devoting herself to him) was necessary and important. All of us are called to both of these tasks, which means that no one should ever be restricted from doing them.
Friends, let us all go out to share the love of Christ that meets us wherever we are and always breaks down the barriers that keep us apart.
Peace to you,
Pastor Aaron