Sermon - 7-17-22

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Religion

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As we look at today’s gospel reading, I am going to start right out by saying that I think far too often Martha has gotten a bad rap. However, I have not always felt this way. So, let me explain. I have three siblings. I have always been the studious one, while my siblings have focused on other things. I have always taken great pride in my studious work, and I frequently judged my siblings for not being as serious about their educational experience. So, when I look at today’s gospel reading from the perspective of my life, I realize that for many years I justified my actions by seeing myself as a Mary, thinking I was better because I was really choosing to do the “right” thing, the better thing, the main thing, choosing what I believed was more or most important. For years, my understanding of this gospel story went something like this: Martha is doing her best to show hospitality to Jesus and the rest of her guests, busily working away on the food, while Mary does something very unusual. Normally in the ancient world, all the adult women would have shared in the responsibility of preparing a meal, but Mary does not do so. Instead, she intentionally chooses to quietly sit at Jesus’ feet, a posture normally reserved only for men in that ancient culture. Like a student or disciple, she intently listens to what Jesus is saying. Well, Martha gets upset about this, and worry, anxiety and frustration bubble up within her. Tired of doing all the work while Mary sits, Martha lets her feelings be known. Instead of going directly to Mary, she goes to Jesus and reprimands him, trying to get him to tell Mary to get to work. Jesus then gently scolds Martha and seems to take Mary’s side in the dispute when he says, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, but there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen it; Mary has chosen the

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