Mary and Martha hit some kind of primitive nerve in most of us. I remember when we read their story in John, and I preached; so many people had a lot of feelings. I love when folks share their feelings, so I am here for it. First-born daughters are often Camp Martha, last-born kids love Mary’s way of being in the moment. Anyone who has ever been pigeonholed due to gender hates being told to be a better Martha. Anyone who has struggled with classroom learning or sitting still during worship dislikes being compared to Mary.
Luke didn’t write this story down to shame women or learning styles or folks who are chore adverse. Luke tells this story because Mary and Martha were leaders in the followers of Jesus. That a story is written about what happens in the private lives of women who follow Jesus is remarkable. Women with power and status and privilege rarely got written about in this time, but here is Martha working away and Mary learning intently. At this particular moment, Jesus praises Mary and worries for Martha. He is concerned with Martha’s being pulled in so many directions. He invites her to stop for a moment and sit with her sister. Sometimes we need to stop, rest, and refocus. Jesus invites Martha into this particular moment of rest with all her feelings.
Also, a note of personal privilege: I start sabbatical this next week. My last day in the office will be Wednesday, July 23. I will be back in worship the last weekend in September, and back in the office on October 1. It is such a blessing to serve a church that knows, believes, and trusts that the work we do as a staff is important and at times exhausting. Sabbatical gives us time to step away and be refreshed and to take a much wider view. I will get to go to Lauryn’s basketball games, support Myles/Evy as they return to school, visit my brother in his new location in Texas, tour Seattle with my online mommy friends, and walk a bit of the Camino with Larye in Portugal and Spain (and also eat a lot of good ham). So, hear me say it again: thank you. Thank you for caring for me in this particular way with all my particular feelings at this particular time. I will see you all a bit later.
Shalom,
Pastor Melissa