It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’ (Luke 10:42)
Whose side do you take - Martha’s or Mary’s?
It’s hard not to sympathise with Martha.
There she is doing all the work. Serving at table, washing the dishes, brushing the floor, soaking the pans, filling the glasses - while Mary just sits there doing nothing, listening and chatting.
And the more she does, the more frustrated she gets. She bangs a few plates loudly into the sink. Pushes a door to a little more firmly than usual. Huffs and puffs with a bit more force and volume.
She is annoyed. She is furious with her ... idle ... sister. Livid.
Well, perhaps it is a familiar family scene.
But think again - the contrast here is not actually between labour and leisure, though it might seem so at first. It is not a conflict between urgent tasks and idleness. It is about priorities.
And, of course, Jesus is right, Mary does have the better part.
What is more important, chores or conversation? the worry of work, or the joy of companionship? The list of tasks or the presence of guests?
It’s not that the work doesn’t matter. It does. Tables must be cleared. The floor will have to be swept. The dishes must be cleaned. Martha isn't wrong - Jesus doesn't say that. Jobs must be done.
But these jobs are necessary not despite the guests, but because of them. And people must always come first. Love, Devotion, Companionship, Prayer can never be second best.
We live a workaholic world where people rush from place to place, work long hours, go on time management courses rather than spend time with their families. We put the kids in front of DVD rather than spend quality time together ... if we are not careful.
What Jesus speaks of here is what we might call the Sabbath principle. It is the idea that leisure is not simply a pause for idleness, but a moment for recharging the batteries, for assessing priorities. Recreation is Re-Creation.
This isn't the same as idleness, because that is purposeless and time-wasting. Leisure can only be enjoyed by those who need it. Priorities can be assessed only by those who have them. Batteries can only be recharged by those who use them. we must breathe in as well as breathe out, sleep as well as wake, rest as well as work.
No - we can sympathise with Martha - but Mary has the better part.
