In my reading of today’s account of Martha and Mary with Jesus (Luke 10:38-42) there are two ideas. Martha needs a second look and Jesus was a revolutionary.

Martha. In the Mediterranean world, women were often seen in service to their household. Women were separated from men in public, private, and religious life. It was a very different perspective from their ancient sisters.

In the Hebrew Scriptures, we see women in prominent roles. Women freely engaged in trade and real estate as a husband trusts her judgement, makes profit for the family, and is praised by her children and spouse (Proverbs 31:10-31). The psalms teach us that women played music in the sanctuary (Psalm 68:25). Women were known for also praying in the temple (1 Samuel 1:12).

In the first century world, the place of women had shifted. They did not hold prominent roles in public. With this in mind, when Martha asks Jesus to excuse Mary to help her, she is trying to save Mary from social embarrassment to the family.

Perhaps, often labeled as someone who was busy with work, Martha was actually trying to protect Mary from getting in trouble by other men watching this intimate conversation with Jesus.

Jesus. Our blessed Lord is the revolutionary who breaks through social norms and expectations. The fact that he welcomed women and men to be his disciples broke all the customs of Judaic understanding of his day. It is an example that no one is ever far from his reach. When Jesus tells Martha, “Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her” he is stating his counter-cultural preference, and reveals that authentic discipleship is about communion with Jesus. He invites Martha to join him on the journey of discipleship.

The message. Jesus’ number one priority is to draw us into his love. Our priority is to live for heaven. Mary is the model of this priority. We must live in anticipation for heaven. Let everything we do be guided by our core memories, our quality time, our intentional moments with Jesus who forms our hearts. Only then can we truly offer work in the name of our beloved Lord.

In the tradition, there is a beautiful invocation to be recited before any activity, “Inspire our actions, Lord, and accompany them with your help, so that our every word and action may always begin and end in you.”