But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’” vs. 40
Luke 10:38-40
Martha had been well-schooled in her culture’s practice of hospitality. Like Abraham centuries before, she knew what to do when Jesus and his disciples dropped by for a visit. She prepared bread, whipped up a vegetable salad, got out the best hummus and spent hours in the kitchen getting the various courses ready. Jesus was more than a teacher, he was a friend, and she wanted him to enjoy the best. But she hadn’t counted on her sister, Mary, plopping herself down in the midst of the men and listening to everything Jesus had to say–and it made her mad. She’d had to do everything by herself! We know the feeling! When we’ve got work to do and could use some help, it’s irritating when our helpers desert us. But Martha knew what to do. She brought her complaint to Jesus–and then implied that it was his fault. And in a way it was! The message of liberation that he was proclaiming had caused Mary to conclude that it was okay for her to sit among the men. For those times this was radical–and as the centuries passed, more and more “good old boys’ clubs” were upset as more and more women took the gospel to heart and old traditions were transformed.
Thought for the Day: When do I long for the “good old days”?
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