These dear saints both love their Lord and want to 'do' what is fitting and proper as His disciples. Martha, the hostess par excellence, gets busy in the kitchen cooking up a storm. It's interesting that Luke uses the Greek word diakonia to refer to the work she was doing in the kitchen. Interesting because this word is just about always associated with the 'good works' that Christians 'do' in response to the love and mercy that God has 'done' to them in Christ.
Anyway, Martha gets all steamed up because as she goes about her diakonia Mary is 'doing' nothing but sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to His words. Martha is indignant. She is serving the Lord. Doing the right thing. Showing her love for Jesus. And what's Mary doing??? NOTHING but listening to Jesus. And what's worse according to Martha is the fact that Jesus is sitting there letting this inequitable state of affairs continue!
Martha's diakonia, her good works, drives her to judge her sister (my sister has left me to do all the work) and to judge God (don't you care?).
Jesus responds tenderly but firmly, pointing out that Martha's got things messed up. She is putting all the emphasis on her good works and letting them get in the way of her hearing the word of the Lord. One thing is necessary, says Jesus, one thing is needed for salvation. And it isn't hospitality or service of any kind. The only thing that is needed is hearing the word of the Lord which grants faith in the works of Christ and brings the promise of forgiveness, life and salvation.
Good works follow - of course they do - but they do not come first. While Martha is the hostess par excellence, Mary is the disciple par excellence - listening to the word of the Lord and resting in the peace His presence brings.
Come along on Sunday and be a Mary!
Here are the readings:
Genesis 18:1-10a A son promised to old Abraham and Sarah
Colossians 1:15-28 The supremacy of Christ; Paul a servant
Luke 10:38-42 Jesus visits Mary and Martha
God's peace to you all,
Pastor Matt
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