Martha and Mary

Martha and Mary
Maurice Denis
1896

Now as they went on their way,
he entered into a certain village:
and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

And she had a sister called Mary,
which also sat at the Lord’s feet,
and heard his word.

But Martha was cumbered about much serving;
and she came up to him,
and said,

Lord,
dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone?
bid her therefore that she help me.

But the Lord answered and said unto her,

Martha,
Martha,
thou art anxious and troubled about many things:
but one thing is needful:
for Mary hath chosen the good part,
which shall not be taken away from her.

Luke 10:38-42 RV

I have liked this story since I first read it last year. It has a wonderful twist. As a first time reader, we expect Jesus to heed Martha's request and rebuke Mary for being lazy.

Lord,
dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone?
bid her therefore that she help me.
Luke 10:40 RV

But it is not so.

Instead, Jesus suggests she chill out, and look at the bigger picture. Instead of worrying about who is or is not doing their fair share, she should either just get on and do, or not. It is not worth worrying about.

Martha,
Martha,
thou art anxious and troubled about many things:
but one thing is needful:
for Mary hath chosen the good part,
which shall not be taken away from her.
Luke 10:41-42 RV

He then informs her that Mary has her priorities correct. Instead of worrying about the mundane, she is learning the word.

What are we to take from this?
Is it that we are to engage in the spiritual life at the expense of the active life?

I think Jesus' point is somewhat more subtle. I don't think he means that we should negate the active life of service for the spiritual life. More, that if we are to be active and serve, we should do so uncomplainingly. If we are to be concerned about something, it shouldn't be the mundane reality stuff, more the spiritual side of our lives.

for Mary hath chosen the good part,
which shall not be taken away from her.
Luke 10:42 RV

The learning of the spirit is something that cannot be taken or lost.

We meet this same Mary later in Jesus' life. It seems she did learn while at Jesus' feet.

Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of spikenard,
very precious,
and anointed the feet of Jesus,
and wiped his feet with her hair:
and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
John 12:3 RV

I have previously written about the reasons for this incident here. What I am interested in now is for the second time we hear about her, she is doing something that someone believes Jesus should rebuke her for, in this case Judas:

But Judas Iscariot,
one of his disciples,
which should betray him,
saith,
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
John 12:4-5 RV

As in the earlier example, we expect Jesus to agree with the accuser. Yet once again, he surprises us with his reply:

Suffer her to keep it against the day of my burying.
For the poor ye have always with you;
but me ye have not always.
John 12:7-8

Both times, Jesus informs the accuser that they are looking at things the wrong way. Indeed, Mary has got it right once again. Both times, Mary is doing something that could be regarded as selfish, and both times Jesus response seems to be egotistical, which I don't think they are.

Jesus reminds us that the spiritual life is of more concern than the material life. Yes, Martha could use a hand. Yes, the poor could use the money. But beyond this, our devotion to Christ, and our commitment to our spiritual lives is where our prime concern should be. It is from here that we will be able to help others.

On a different point, it is interesting that Mary annoints Jesus' feet. In Matthew and Mark, it is his head. John uses this motif again:

and he took a towel,
and girded himself.
Then he poureth water into the bason,
and began to wash the disciples’ feet,
and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
John 13:4-5 RV

So: Mary learns at Jesus' feet, then she annoints his feet, then he washes the disciples feet.