Thanks.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!' 'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.' 

--Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)

As we head into Thanksgiving and my head fills with things to do, I start thinking about Mary and Martha.  When I read these verses, I have so many questions as I see the scene unfold in my head.  I first have to wonder what took place before Jesus arrived.  All we know from the text is that Martha opened her home to Jesus and the disciples.  How much notice did she have that they were coming?  Doesn’t the word “preparation” imply that Martha should have been finished with whatever she was doing by the time her guests arrived?  Why wasn’t she?  On the other hand, if she had no advance warning and Jesus dropped in unannounced, what did she think Jesus and the disciples were expecting?  An elaborate banquet?  Unlikely.

Later in the story, I picture Jesus sitting in one room of the house, teaching the disciples, Mary, and anyone else who was able to be there.  The room is quiet, and the people are listening intently to Jesus’ every word.  I picture Martha in the kitchen, hustling around and becoming angrier by the second.  

Why didn’t Mary choose to help Martha in the kitchen? Jesus says she made a better choice instead.  I also wonder what Jesus was preaching about.  We’ll never know, and neither will Martha.  An opportunity lost forever.  

Eventually, Martha reaches her limit.  I picture her flinging down a rag (did they have rags back then?), pushing a lock of hair out of her face with an exasperated sigh, and charging into the room where Jesus is teaching.  She accuses Jesus of not caring about her, insinuates that it’s Mary’s fault that she’s stuck in the kitchen, and demands that Jesus tell Mary to help in the kitchen.  

Whoa!  Martha has some nerve to interrupt the Lord of the Universe (who is also her guest, by the way) to make demands of Him, accuse Him of not loving her, and complain about the work she has to do to in order to have Him as a guest in her home.  

More importantly, what about the things she doesn’t complain about? She doesn’t say a word about missing out on spending time with Jesus.  She doesn’t seem to be bothered by not hearing His teaching.

Jesus’ response is gentle, calming and understanding, yet offers a rebuke at the same time.  He says she is worried and upset about “many things.”  Since He knows all of her thoughts, I wonder what things He means?  No doubt Martha knows.  

He directs her that “only one thing is needed.”  This “one thing” is the answer to Martha’s immediate situation and to all situations--stop and spend time with the only One who matters.  He goes on to tell Martha that “Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  What Mary has learned will never be taken from her, and Jesus Himself will never be taken from her either.

Here’s my biggest question about this story: After Jesus responds to Martha, what does she do?  Does she listen to Jesus, realize He’s right, and humbly take a seat at his feet?  Or does she roll her eyes, huff back to the kitchen, and finish working by herself?  

This Thanksgiving, when you’re faced with the choice of checking items off of your to-do list, or spending time with the only One who matters, choose what is better.  It will not be taken away from you.

With Thanks,

Stephanie