Martha Tries the Guilt Card

 

~~~ Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~~~

 

~~Genesis 18:1-10a~~Psalm15~~Colossians 1:24-28~~Luke 10:38-42~~

 

Martha and Mary are typical sisters...each one has her own agenda.

Often times they are not the same.

Certainly they love each other, but one, Martha,

 has expectations to what the other should be doing.

Martha wants to have everything perfect for Jesus' visit.

She wins the hospitality award...oops...

I don't think Jesus is concerned about the appearance of their house.

He is not anxiously awaiting their finest dish placed upon the table.

 

He is there to visit with them...to share with them...

to show his affection for his friends.

 

Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me.”

 

These two devout women interact with Jesus in very different ways.

 

Martha is concerned about herself. Martha is complaining to Jesus.

Martha stands above Jesus as he sits. Jesus must look up

into the face of Martha.

Martha is focused on the external...how things appear.

Martha does the talking to Jesus. Martha tries to tell Jesus how to act.

Martha actually tries to make Jesus feel guilty...

This is almost comical for her to play the guilt card with Jesus.

 

 

Mary wants to be as close as she can get to Jesus.

She sits in a lowly place at his feet.

Mary sits humbly on the ground.

She does not worry herself about the dirt on his feet.

Mary gazes up into the face of her dear friend.

Mary wants to listen

to every word he has to say.

Mary wants to know about his travels, about his power to heal. 

Mary allows Jesus to do the talking...she recognizes him as the teacher. 

 

 Jesus wastes no time responding to Martha...

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”

If Martha had truly been listening to Jesus

she would have let go of her need for perfection.

She would have quickly joined her sister at his feet. 

 

Mary has chosen the better part...

Sitting at the feet of Jesus is the better part.

Opening your heart to hear his words is the better part.

Quietly being present to him is the better part.

 

Martha and Mary each attempt to show their love for Jesus.

He is very clear about which is better.

 

There is only need of one thing...

Blessings come sitting at the feet of Jesus...

being near to him.