The story of Martha and Mary – you know the one, Martha is doing all the work and Mary just sits there, at the feet of Jesus and receives praise for doing it. I must admit that I really, REALLY don’t like this story. Martha gets a bad rap.
Wasn’t it just a few verses before that Jesus implores the lawyer to “go and do likewise” and now we hear that Mary who is staying and sitting at the feet of Jesus has “chosen the better part.” So which is it?
It’s both/and. It’s both ‘go and do’ AND ‘stay and sit.’ And it’s finding that sweet spot and balance between the two.
For the lawyer, who sat around doing nothing except making sure that he had tittles and jots all in a row so that he KNEW if anyone asked that he would be saved, needed to “see, draw near and get involved.” For Martha who, in the original Greek (and I love this) was described as having a “spasm” or “spastic” and the on the verge of a panic attack because the pressure of the savior of the world and 12 of his buddies showed up unannounced for dinner, needed to just chill out.
In the Gospel of Luke, both learning AND service are important. Even better, ANYONE can stay at the feet of Jesus and sit in rapt attention, hanging on his every word. You see, in the 1st century women weren’t considered disciple material and yet Jesus welcomed Mary to take the place of the disciple and stay at his feet. And he invited Martha to do the same. Step outside of the social expectations of being a woman and the hostess. Come, be a disciple and stay and sit at the feet of the master.
“Martha, Martha” Jesus says in a way that makes this conversation just between her and him.
He didn’t call her out in front of the others. Jesus never says that Martha is wrong, irrational. But he does say that he is not going to stop Mary from being at his feet. She belonged there! And so did Martha.
“Martha, Martha” is an invitation, not a rebuke. And Jesus calls our names, too! Come, sit at the feet of the master, be fed by the word made flesh and be the disciple that God has intended for us to be. No matter what. Aged 2 or 92, high in faith, low in faith, questioning everything about faith, man or woman, slave or free, gentile or Jew, straight or LGBTQIA, and the list goes on. Because when Jesus and God for that matter, say “all” that is exactly what is meant – “all means all” and all are welcome to sit at the feet of the master.
Believe that you are God’s precious and beloved child. No one is outside of the grace, love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen one. All means all!
Stay or go? It’s up to God! Just ask him…