Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
The modern egalitarian reading of this text would probably suggest that there was no time for edifying conversation with Jesus, but only with mutual service. Simply sitting at the feet of Jesus seemed to be slothfully ignoring the real demands of the physical world, such as the ever pressing need for food. Such work seemed to be so important as to leave no time for anyone, including Jesus and the disciples, let alone Mary, to engage in anything else. Jesus did, after all, seem to care about such things. Contrary to Martha's accusation, he himself was so concerned for the hungry crowd that he provided bread enough to satisfy them. Could it be that here in this situation he had simply gotten so caught up in teaching that he had forgotten? Unlikely. He did not insist on Martha delaying her work until another time. It was not the work itself that displeased him or her hospitality that he criticized. If anything, it was her attitude that he reproved.
Tell her to help me.
Martha's attitude revealed that she herself found her own task unsatisfactory and in need of improvement. She seemed to be aware that to rest at Jesus feet was desirable, but that it seemed impermissible due to the demands of hospitality. She was on the one hand drawn in the direction of Jesus, wishing to sit alongside Mary and listen. But she was also drawn at the same time toward dozens of conflicting demands and priorities. And this was the reason for her struggle. Mary was able to listen to Jesus with her whole heart. This was the good part which would not be taken from her. But Martha was divided. Her service thus could not have been entirely for the sake of Jesus. Such single-hearted service would have been so rewarding that no comparisons or complaints could have arisen in her mind. Rather she was performing a duty imposed by society, responding to multiple demands, not content with her part in the plan. Had she been wholly committed to serving Jesus she would have been delighted that her service allowed others the time to sit and listen. She would have been confident that she herself would similarly receive all the attention from Jesus that she would need. Her service too, done with the right attitude, could have been a part so good it would not be taken from her. It was not necessarily the case that strict equality of tasks was always necessary. Such was a merely human way of thinking. Wasn't it more reasonable that at one time one might serve so that others may listen, that they might later serve in turn? People exercising a charism of service need not to feel judged by others pursuing more intellectual or spiritual pursuits. Indeed neither to listen nor to serve was the better part. Doing everything completely for Jesus was always and in each case the better part.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.
We are the sort of people that tend to think of all of the work that we could be doing during our times of prayer and who wish that we had more time for stillness, quiet, and prayer, during times of work. Neither our prayer nor our hospitality on so well ordered to the one thing necessary that our minds don't have time to wander, compare, and complain. But we can, we are meant, to become people who are increasingly about only one thing. Because when we pursue that one thing all else follows. When we seek first the Kingdom we receive all else besides.
Passion Featuring Kristian Stanfill - One Thing Remains
Songs In His Presence - Prayer Of Augustine
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