The story of Mary and Martha is a classic story of “the roles of women” in the first century of the Common Era. But (at the same time) it is also “a source of annoyance” to many women.
That was then. This is now. Things have obviously – radically – changed.
The story leaves out all kinds of important details.
Did Martha know that Jesus was coming to her village? Was it a “spur of the moment” kind of thing? Was she adequately prepared to receive his company and “his entire entourage?” Did she have the necessary foods at home to serve “that many people?”
Did Martha have help? Were there servants? Or, as we are led to believe did all the responsibility fall directly on the shoulders of Martha?
Just HOW BIG was her house? Was it the largest home in the village? What does that say about Martha?
It was an honor to receive an “itinerant rabbi.” Her “honor” in the village just sky rocketed “out of control.” She was to be “honored and respected” for her invitation. But did she –receive more than she originally bargained for?
Jesus came to “HER HOUSE” that day! That would have been the news of “the entire village.” The pressure was on. Everything needed to “come off” without a hitch. It needed to be exceptional. Stellar! Extraordinary!
The expectation was that individuals would be welcomed. Water would be provided for their feet. They would be able to wipe the “dust of the road” off of themselves. The guests would be allowed to mingle – rest and unwind. There would be the need to hydrate all of them. A meal would be served to them. And someone would have to be attentive to all of the individual needs and their requests.
As head of the household, all of that… fell squarely on the shoulders of Martha. The pressure was on…
We assume Martha went about a whirlwind of activity…
At some point, she sought the help of her sister, Mary.
How surprised she must have been to see her sister, sitting at the feet of the rabbi, learning from him like a (male) student!
The interesting thing is that Jesus allowed it…or permitted it.
Frustrated, distracted, troubled, preoccupied, absorbed, worried and totally engrossed in her tasks, Martha sought the help of her sister. Was it because she was jealous? Was it because she wanted to sit there? Or was it because she worried about the serving…and felt completely overwhelmed?
The story originally began in a place of calm, and then, it grows in tension until the climax of Martha’s anger, and then comes down – back to a place of peace and calm.
Jesus is the catalyst, here.
“Martha, Martha, Martha, calm down, breathe, it is ok, take it easy, stop all the fretting…”
Jesus was suggesting that Martha was too “preoccupied with the details of serving” …
As a matter of fact…Jesus was saying… “You’re fretting, you’re worried about fixing A BIG MEAL. There is need of only one thing, ONE DISH.
We don’t NEED to have “a lot of dishes here,” only one dish IS NEEDED.”
The “one thing” initially means ONE DISH.
What a lot of people do not understand or see in this passage is that Jesus is supportive of Martha and is saying, “I don’t need an elaborate meal; one dish IS ENOUGH!”
And at the very same time, Jesus is also supportive of Mary and her desire to listen, to grow, to learn and to hear.
He is supportive of both sisters. He refuses to take sides.
Jesus is again coming off as the wise rabbi. He will not be brought into a family squabble over responsibility. He will not judge between sisters.
Both sisters, both women were doing what they chose to do. It was their choice.
There was no way that Jesus was going to come between them.
The surprising thing is: Jesus’ invitation to Mary and Martha stands in contrast to other teachers throughout the centuries who would teach ONLY men. Until the 18th century the students who were taught to read and received an education were primarily MEN. WOMEN were largely excluded from all education. The education of women is a relatively recent development and is still resisted in SOME parts of our world. Jesus encouraged that; he encouraged Mary and Martha to listen to him and to learn from him, in effect, to become his students.