Luke tells this seemingly simple story of Jesus’ interaction with his dear friends Martha and Mary. Martha welcomes Jesus and sets about rushing around with meal preparations— a breathless hospitality with no time for anything, except building frustration, anger, jealousy, and self-martyrdom. All the while, Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus— a “right-hearted” disciple, soaking in the teaching of Jesus. Martha comes to Jesus, seeking his aid to get Mary to help her in the kitchen. Many have taken Jesus’ words to Martha as critical of her loving service and hospitality. One wonders whether Martha— and her fellow servants in the Church— have been overlooked in their concerns. Were Jesus’ words a critique of serving per se or were they words of healing for a harried, distracted server? The “answer” is “the one thing needful.”

 

Note: The painting associated with this podcast (visible on the Epiclesis website podcast page) is "Christ in the House of Martha and Mary" (detail) by Vermeer.

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