Only one thing ...

Reflection on Luke 10.38-42 Another good story from Luke. This may be the first visit Jesus made to the home of Mary and Martha, a place which was to become a place of refuge for him. We hear of a bit of tension in the household, between the two sisters. But Luke is not just giving us some juicy gossip, about a family squabble. We should hear the story within its context, that section of the gospel called the “Travel Narrative”, where the dominant theme is teaching about discipleship. And, the incident comes right after the story of the despised Samaritan. The Samaritan story is about help, and hospitality, given by a stranger. In this story, we hear of hospitality given by Mary and Martha to Jesus. The two stories form a pair. On one level, they show the necessary balance, between love of neighbour (last week), and love of God (this week). But on another level, they tell us of another necessary balance; about doing, and about not doing. Mary and Martha are each being good hosts, offering hospitality to their guest. Martha is hospitable (in the usual way), by being occupied with the "many household tasks" (we would say, "keeping busy in the kitchen"). Jesus clearly affirms this domestic work, as a valuable ministry. However, Mary shows her ministry of hospitality differently, simply by being open to what Jesus was saying. “She sat at his feet”. Now, according to middle eastern traditions, that is the customary position and attitude of a disciple, one who listens, and learns. "She listened to what Jesus was saying". But Martha is offended. She has been left with all the dishes! We may notice that Martha does not speak directly to Mary, either simply to ask for help, or even to scold her. Interesting! Instead, she comes to Jesus, looking for his support. She asks if he does not care, that her sister had “left me to do all the work by myself”. She tells Jesus, to tell Mary, to help her. It is clear that Martha has some particular views about what Mary should, and should not be doing. And, she expects that her judgement will be confirmed by Jesus. But her expectations are disappointed. Jesus tells her she is "worried and distracted by too many things". He adds, "there is need of only one thing". Well, what is “the one thing”? (It does not mean, as some have suggested, that instead of a five-course meal, one casserole would do!) What is the “better part”, that Jesus clearly states Mary has chosen? It is, to be a disciple, a follower, to listen to God’s “word”. Listening, hearing, rather than doing. We all create so many distractions, so much busyness for ourselves (often quite good-intentioned and helpful, but still busyness). Being “on the go”, even “hectic”, is considered admirable; being “quiet”, or “not getting out”, is looked upon with disfavour. Certainly, we can do things to be of help to others; but we can also end up being busy-bodies. There is a balance, that needs to be found. As a culture, a society, we seem incapable of sitting, of being still, or quiet. But, how else could we ever be able to listen for, to hear, God's word. It takes time, and stillness, and withdrawal, to be able to discern God's word. God’s word for me. And, God’s word for us, now. We cannot simply take every word, and expectation, of teachings of earlier times, and blindly carry those injunctions into our time, and our situation. We need much careful reflection. And that takes time. The ministries of both Mary and Martha are necessary; both are part of our response to God. As individuals, we each need to be able to find a balance – the balance that is appropriate to each one of us, and it will be different from another’s balance. [The “Rule of Life” at the end of the catechism in the BCP gives a good outline of how this balance could be developed]. But a church community also needs balance. We need to support disciples whose emphasis is on their active ministry, in our homes and in our community; on what they do to be of service. And we need to support disciples whose emphasis is on their quiet ministry, who take time to listen, to learn, and study, and reflect: "What is God's word, God’s purposes?" Let's take one more step. In the culture in which Jesus lived and taught, it was men (that is, adult males), who did the teaching; and the learning, who reflected on the scriptures. But Jesus would not perpetuate old teachings that were not compassionate. He broke boundaries that would exclude any group from God's love and acceptance. Today's story of Mary and Martha shows us the radical practice of the early church: women were full disciples; they were learners, they were permitted to discuss, and even teach. In the Samaritan story, in Mary & Martha’s home, Jesus breaks open a cultural restrictions; on perceived differences, on women. But the point in each case is the same: Jesus still today challenges his church to question, and break open, unjust boundaries; those discriminations and assumptions in our culture which restrict the dignity, or the full acceptance, of any human being - no matter how different or strange they may seem to us.