March 16, 2025: Mary, Martha or Both?

The Gospel Luke 10: 38-42  

At first glance, this scripture seems to offer an either/or choice. Either one is the worker running around taking care of the needs of Jesus and his entourage as Martha does or one is the student learning from Jesus, hanging on his every word as Mary does. 

Jesus seems to make his choice clear when he answers Martha’s request to have Mary help her by saying “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

I struggle with this passage a lot because I so relate to it. When looking at this passage, many of us choose sides based on who we are. We either identify with Martha the worker or Mary the more contemplative, studious one. 

I am a Martha. I can so picture Martha running around cleaning the house, making lunch for Jesus and all the disciples. Arranging flowers for the table, running in to clean the bathroom and finish the dishes, and setting up extra sleeping areas for all the guests. Then I, through Martha’s eyes, look over and see my sister Mary just sitting there at Jesus’ feet and I think to myself, how is it fair that I am doing all this work and she just gets to sit there and listen to the Lord? I feel all of Martha’s frustration and self-righteous anger. 

I also think Martha really thought Jesus would stand up for her when she said to him, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?”. I mean, he could see all that she was doing. But no, Jesus confirmed that Mary was right where she was supposed to be. I can feel Martha’s face reddening and how deflated she must have felt at Jesus’ response. 

And yet, let's remember that this passage comes right after the story of the Good Samaritan that we heard last week. So, there is precedent for the value and need for good works that help people. 

I do not think it is an accident that these two passages follow each other. So let’s take a closer look at the story of Mary and Martha.

In many translations, Jesus says that “Mary has chosen the better part,” which has been used to create a divide between Mary and Martha. However, in translating from the Greek, it says Mary has chosen the “good portion,” and Martha’s tasks are called “ministry.” Yes, ministry. She is ministering to the needs of Jesus and his disciples so they can do their ministry. This work, is indeed a form of ministry just like Bill greeting everyone each Sunday morning and ringing the bell is a form of ministry and people bringing food, setting up and cleaning up coffee hour is a form of ministry, Terry’s music is a form of ministry, serving as a Deacon or Trustee or board member is a form of ministry. Putting together disaster kits is a form of ministry and so much more.

There are many ways to minister to God’s people. 

And yes, taking time to be quiet, to pray, and to learn, is also important. But sitting still, taking the time to really quiet our hearts and minds and listen for God can be hard when there is just so much work to be done! And it feels good to check things off the To Do list doesn’t it?

So I am Martha and I would have wanted Mary to help me as well or maybe I would have been jealous that she got to sit there with Jesus BECAUSE I was doing all of the work. 

But let’s step back even farther here and think about the fact that Mary at least, is really falling into the role of a  female disciple here learning from Jesus. In Jesus’ time women were generally seen as inferior to men and not given the opportunity to participate in something important like ministry. Yet here we have Jesus teaching Mary. Once again Jesus is a disrupter breaking the male bastion by saying women too can be both students and teachers in God’s work. Martha ministers in one way and Mary in another. 

Three other women are named in Luke 8: 1-3 as travelling with Jesus and the disciples as they proclaimed the Good News of God: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza and Susanna but the scripture notes there were also “many others” who  provided for them out of their resources.

It sounds like these women were probably doing more of the Martha-like work and even financially supporting Jesus and the disciples, but they learned from Jesus as well. 

Mary, however, seems to be ushering in a new kind of role - female disciple who will spread the words of Jesus.
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Remember, also, that after he is resurrected, Jesus appears to the women. They are the first ones who will then go and proclaim the resurrection becoming preachers of a sort. Mary indeed is one of these female preachers. 

Let’s think about the way Jesus speaks to Martha in this passage. He says, “Martha, Martha” - I can see him smiling and shaking his head as he says this in a kindly way. The repetition of her name shows a kind of familiarity. It’s not so much that he is admonishing her as saying - “It’s ok, this is where she needs to be.” I mean, I admit that I would be more comfortable if he had invited Martha to sit down as well saying, “Martha, Martha, come join us. I know you would like to learn as well. The work can wait.” 

Ok - what I really want him to say is, “Martha, Martha, come join us and learn as well. The disciples can make dinner tonight” but maybe one feminist step forward - letting women into this male bastion of learning– was enough for one day.

The bottom line is this, it is not that Jesus is excluding Mary from work, it is that he is including her in the ministry of learning and teaching. And maybe that was not Martha’s thing. Martha may have been more at home ministering to Jesus’ and his disciples' physical needs even if it did feel a bit overwhelming at times.

Perhaps Mary represents our faith, our desire to know God intimately, and Martha represents our good works, our desire to transform the world. Both are needed, and both are good, but these things are not mutually exclusive either. 

I am a Martha but I also need my Mary time, even if it takes more effort to get me there. 

I admire the Marys who can let go of the To Do list in favor of making contemplative time to learn and grow closer to God. It’s not that I cannot do it but it’s more like I have to actually put it on my list to get it done - that also lets me check it off the list, which is equally satisfying. 

The story of Mary and Martha is not a sibling rivalry where we need to take sides deciding on whether we are on Team Martha or Team Mary. Instead it is a story about using our God-given talents as best we can, regardless of gender or cultural norms. God calls us to use those talents but also to expand them by making time to grow our faith in the knowledge and contemplation of God and putting our faith into action by helping where needed. Both add value. It’s not a competition. 

So whether you are a “Don’t just sit there, do something!” or a  “Don’t just do something, sit there!” person, you are the person who God made you to be and both can serve God. Amen

Pastor Michelle Fountain

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