August 07, 2015
Martha, Martha
During one communion service worshippers
formed a single line and stood before the reverend as he served the elements.
As each person pulled a piece from the loaf of bread and dipped it into the
chalice of grape juice he reminded partakers that it was the body and blood of Christ,
“Take, eat and be filled.” Transitioning from communion he implied he didn’t
want to appear irreverent and untraditional, but rather than neatly covering
the elements with a cloth, he would leave the table as it stood. He said, “I
want to leave a messy table to show that the table is always open.” I had this image
of Martha trying to pull Mary out of the pew so she could help tidy up that table.
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many
things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what
is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Lk 10:41-42 NIV).
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1 comment:
Gail;
-----This story has always perplexed me. People who’ve wanted to duplicate it in their lives have always miffed me. Jesus wasn’t roving about the countryside all alone when Martha met Him and invited Him into her house. He was traveling with His disciples. I guess He could have told them to go find their own places to stay, for He was going to stay with these two ladies. But I much doubt that. Most likely Martha was quite busy making at least necessary preparations for a big company. Inside herself, Mary was probably going, “Like, you invited this crowd, Martha; you take care of them!” And Jesus knew His little band of men meant a lot of work for somebody. So right before all the work must get started, He chooses to sit down with Mary and chew spiritual fat. All His disciples were probably gathered around, too, half listening to the conversation, half wondering what was cooking in the kitchen for their empty, growling stomachs.
-----A better order for that evening’s business may have been a few disciples, and maybe even Jesus, helping Martha and Mary get things ready and then cleaning up after dinner, too. Then Jesus could bring out a relevant topic to teach everyone. It isn’t like the food prepares itself and the pots and pans and dirty dishes wash themselves. I know Jesus was capable of making that happen, but it wasn’t His nature to satisfy the mundane, necessary tasks of life with miracles. The work had to be done sometime, and it’s proper time was a good time, which was the time Martha was doing it - the time Jesus sat to chat.
-----Over my lifetime of observing things, it seems to me some goody-two-shoe, Mr. Sundayschool types like to try this same stunt. They choose the most inopportune times to do their religiosity as if to see whether the people around them will drop necessities to ascend their “ladders to heaven“. Most often the pabulum they serve is not worth the time even in its proper time. Which, I suppose, could propose another reason they do this stunt: to test whether their stuff is good enough to distract people from their ordinary courses of necessities.
-----I reason Jesus was a pretty practical guy, though. I would never think He would pull any religiosities to either showboat or test His stuff. He was perfect in all aspects. The story tells us nothing more than that He was talking to Mary while Martha was slaving over the preparations. It isn’t told whether Jesus initiated a big, spiritual discussion, or whether Mary’s curiosity occasioned one. So, either is possible. I know Mr. Sundayschool would want to think Jesus initiated a deep, spiritual conversation at an inappropriate time to make things really spiritual and all. But I don’t think Jesus was so rude. I’ll bet the farm’s fat hog that something came up quite naturally to which Jesus was responding. When something comes up that’s important to answer, it is generally coming from a frame of mind unable to be put on hold for until later. Sometimes you’ve got to feed it at that moment or loose it forever. And more than anyone else, Jesus knows how valuable is tying up a loose end of thought before moving attention on to something else. So, if there was any showboating going on, it was probably Martha trying to outdo the Hilton Hotel, for it was her reputation she risked with the invitation.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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