Luke 10:38-42
38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Presence and Optimal Preparation
The eastern hospitality customs that Jesus experienced still have special features in His Holy Land. The most important of these is
hospitality, which requires a welcoming presence and optimal preparation.
The head of the house welcomes the guest and remains present with him/her while other family members prepare delicious food befitting the guest's status, as we see Abraham doing with his guests in Genesis 18:1-8.
An old saying is, "The guest is the host's prisoner." Guests accept whatever is offered to them and respect the privacy of the family without any requirements or instructions as to what the family members should do.
Today's Gospel offers us a different picture. We see Jesus acting as if He were the master of the house. Martha returns to Him to share her concerns, asking Him to order her sister Mary to help her. We also see Him direct His comments to Martha, confident that she will comply with His advice.
We see Mary sitting at His feet as if she were the eldest sister while Martha, considered to be the eldest, is worried about what and how much to prepare for the guests.
Martha approaches Jesus, asking Him to order her sister Mary to help her. The way she speaks to Jesus shows how they consider Him the Father of their family, "Lord, you do not care that my sister left me to do all the work by myself? (v. 40).
Jesus responds to her with respect and deep insight, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things. Only one thing is needed, Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her" (vv. 41-42).
How are we to understand Jesus' response to Martha according to eastern culture?
Jesus is received as Lord more than as a guest.
The text does not mention if He was accompanied by His disciples as at the wedding in Cana, but according to the tradition and to Martha's worries about preparations, He probably was.
Jesus’ first food is to proclaim and preach the Kingdom, as we see at Jacob's well when the disciples come back to Him from the town and invite Him to eat. “My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to finish his work” John 4:34.
Being in the presence of Jesus means more than the preparation of the table, which is also important but less so.
Listening to Jesus is always better than worrying and being distracted.
Complaining about or judging what others do is not appropriate in Jesus' eyes.
Jesus respects both Martha and Mary, each in her way of love and service, reminding us that the role of both should lead to sharing Christ’s presence and the table.
Jesus would like to teach both sisters so that they complete each other's good will to honor the Lord's presence in their house.
Things should be done without major worries and distractions, simplicity is better and more satisfactory.
What does that mean for us today? Do we invite Jesus as Lord or guest into our house?
Do we save some time to be in His presence and listen to Him? Do we meet Him in the Gospel daily, reflect and meditate upon His words and pray with Him?
Do distractions and worries prevent us from welcoming Him as befits His person and message? Do we see Him in the person of the "little ones" and honor Him through them?
Today's Gospel invites us to be Martha and Mary in one-person, giving priority to His presence over our daily preparations, worries and distractions.