We often overlook Martha’s boldness to focus on Mary’s boldness in taking a disciple’s role. So there’s a sting when Jesus seems to prefer Mary’s contemplative approach over Martha’s busyness. “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).
Yet Jesus has validated Martha too, by simply being with her in her home. It’s not an either/or situation. It’s not the active versus the contemplative life. We are all called in the fullness of our lives to move beyond the culture and custom of our time to live a life in service to Jesus.
This excerpt is from the Women of the ELCA blog “The Mary-Martha Puzzle” by Linda Post Bushkofsky.
Daily Grace has been offering you things to ponder and things to pray about for more than 10 years. For free. Women of the ELCA provides many other free online resources, too—see welca.org/resources. Please support Women of the ELCA at welca.org/give.