This Sunday’s Gospel of the story of Martha and Mary (Lk 10:38-42) often results in people rallying to support poor Martha who is chided by Jesus for being anxious about many things. Too often, the figures of Martha and Mary are seen as representing the contemplative (Mary) and active (Martha) lives. Folks who are accustomed to handling details concerning hospitality rush to Martha’s aid saying that, if it were not for her and people like her, nothing would ever get done. I understand the sentiment behind that but the problem is, it misreads the Gospel story.
Jesus is not setting up a contrast between the contemplative and active lives. He does not chide Martha for paying attention to the details of hospitality but for “being anxious about many things” and he commends Mary for choosing “the one thing that is better.” Jesus wants us to direct our attention in this story to what Mary has chosen over Martha’s anxiety. In other words, in this story, Martha is simply in the wrong. Period.
Now if that bothers you, recall how many times Peter was simply in the wrong. Or for that matter, Thomas. Or James and John. Martha is in good company. She is a big girl and can take care of herself, thank you!
What seems to bother so many of us is that Martha’s “job” is a lot like the work that many of us find ourselves doing either at home, in ministry, or at work, so it seems as though Jesus’ criticism is hitting a little too close to home. Jesus, however, is criticizing Martha’s attitude. Jesus spoke in general terms about not being anxious in his conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 6:25-34). We all love that “birds of the air” and “lilies of the field” stuff but we get a bit uncomfortable when we hear Jesus so pointedly direct the same wisdom at Martha, because we are so much like her. Perhaps we need to approach this story in another way.