Another familiar story from the Gospel of Luke. To all of the “Marthas” out there, female and male, don’t despair quite yet.
How do you know you are a Martha? Are you an anxious hostess/host? Always worried about the state of the accommodations, if there will be enough food, drink and seating? Is everyone comfortable, with the room temperature not too cold or too hot? Has anything been overlooked?
If you answer yes to all or most of these questions, you most definitely are a Martha. In case you missed it, I am raising my hand to confess that
I too am a Martha!
We often think of Martha as an anxious hostess but was she really? The social norms of her day dictated that women were to serve guests, especially male guests, abundantly. In our modern-day language, “she was to wait on them hand and foot.”
Hospitality was a highly praised attribute in Jewish culture so it's no wonder Martha wanted to be the “hostess with the mostess.” In Martha’s mindset, Mary's behavior was out of line. She was being rude to the guests by not showing them hospitality.
So was Mary the one who was out of the social norm? Women were not privy to education or sitting among men who were being instructed. Not only did Mary enter into the inner sanctum of men, she took the most coveted space, at the feet of the teacher and directly in front of him.
Mary stepped over the line of acceptable women’s social behavior. We might say, “she was out of line.” Notice Luke does not say any man objected to Mary’s presence at Jesus’ feet. The only protest came from Martha and Jesus’ response was not the one she was expecting.
Yes, his response is a bit shocking when you think how inclusive Jesus usually was in social situations. He didn’t seem to have any quandaries about setting aside other social norms he thought unfair. For example he ate with tax collectors and prostitutes. He broke the ritual purity laws about hand washing before meals. He touched sick and deformed people, even women!
Remember that Jewish purity laws forbidden contact with females over the age of twelve due to the blood taboo and touching a dead body. No, Jesus wasn’t afraid to “upset the apple cart” if he thought people were being treated unfairly or marginalized.
So, back to our story set in the house of Mary and Martha. Why didn’t Jesus tell everyone to get a drink or snack, find a comfortable cushion and come sit down together. He could then begin teaching everyone there, female and male alike.
Before we go on, let’s remember that storytellers have more than one reason for telling a story and they are hopeful that their listeners will hear more than one meaning.
So often the preaching of this story of Martha and Mary shows Martha in a negative light. That her worried behavior about hospitality is a detriment to the spiritual life.
Preachers often focus on the words, “Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41). While this is an acceptable way of interpreting this story might there be another way to shed light on the story. Let’s consider looking at the story in metaphorical terms instead of literal ones.
The story of Martha and Mary in Luke’s Gospel as a great example of an active and contemplative life. As was mentioned just a few moments ago, preachers and teachers too often interpret the story with Mary as the contemplative one, as being the one most blessed.
It is easy to see how this viewpoint came about. Remember that Jesus himself said, “Mary has chosen the better part, and it shall not be taken away” ( Luke 10:42),
I would like us to consider a new interpretation of the story. Together we will explore a different way of how the active and contemplative life of spirituality unfolds. Instead of seeing Martha and Mary as two distinct individuals I like to think of them as one person with two overlapping spiritual qualities.
Mary, the contemplative disciple, sits at the feet of Jesus. There she hears his message and takes it into her heart. She learns in silence the ways of the Spirit. Jesus has a message about the Reign of Abba God and is willing to share the Good News with those willing to listen.
Sometimes in our daily life we are Mary. We are also like Jesus who spends time alone in prayer (often early in the morning or late at night). Sometimes our prayerful listening takes place in Liturgical Prayer (such as Sunday worship services), sometimes in Scripture Reading or in our vocal said prayers.
Often the Spirit speaks through another person and if we are listening with the ears of faith we can hear the message of Jesus just as surely as Mary did sitting at Jesus’ feet. In order for this contemplation to happen however one activity is necessary. We must be open and receptive to “hearing” the Spirit of God.
Martha on the other hand is the “active” one. She is “busy about many things”. Jesus himself mentions this and too often Jesus’ words have been interpreted as endorsing contemplation while negating activity.
Nowhere does Jesus infer anything of the sort. Jesus himself was an activist, teaching and preaching all over the countryside. Not only did he teach and preach, he also touched people and healed them.
It is inconceivable to think of Jesus as “cloistered” or removed from the world. Martha is the one who provides service to Jesus and his disciples. She is the one who “gets her hands dirty” with matters of everyday living.
Luke as the storyteller is saying that Jesus is not condemning her activity nor promoting Mary’s serenity. Luke wants us to realize that each of us is Martha and Mary. We must remember this point in our daily life.
Each of us is or needs to be Martha, the active one. Every time we serve others in our family, our social community or our faith community we bring the Spirit of God into the world. The Spirit of God can only affect change through a human presence, ours.
We too, are Mary, the contemplative one. Every time we pray or listen to God’s Word we are sitting at the feet of Jesus as a disciple. The Spirit of God can only affect change when the human instrument of God is in tune with the Divine Music. We need to have “ears to hear” this song.
Martha and Mary seen together as one person is a wonderful example of an active/contemplative spirituality. They are integrated to work together to bring a wholeness of being into existence.
I hope that we are or will become Martha and Mary together as a whole being, two different areas of spirituality working together as one in our daily spiritual journey home to Abba God.
Blessings on your active meditative day.
Notes: Preached (Delivered) July 20, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Falun Wisconsin and Bethany Lutheran Church, Grantsburg Wisconsin
16th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C
Readings: Genesis 18:1-10a Psalm 15 Colossians 1:15-28 Luke 10:32-42