The good portion (Lk. 10:38–42)

This passage is often thought as a bit of an example of two types of spirituality being pitched against one another, and Jesus speaks for one against the other. Martha displays what we might call an “active spirituality”: serving her Lord in practical ways, such as preparing a meal. Mary is the example of “passive spirituality”: prioritising listening to and learning from the Word of God above all else. Jesus commends Mary for her devotion, saying that she has chosen the “good portion”, seemingly disregarding the necessity of practical service. This would be the wrong way to see things.

During the week, I attended the Lower Murray South East Christian Life Week. CLWs, as they are known, take place from every region in South Australia in the July school holidays each year and have been for probably at least 15 years. The one that belongs to our region, which extends from Murray Bridge to Mount Gambier, was held at Robe and we had roughly 40 campers and 25 adult leaders in attendance, our largest for some time.

The theme for this year’s CLW was “Upside-Down Kingdom”. Over the course of the week, we looked at different areas where Jesus speaks about his kingdom being the opposite to what we might expect, and that we are called to act in an upside-down way as we serve him as Christians in the world today.

In theological terms, we call this the Theology of the Cross versus the Theology of Glory. The Theology of the Cross is about how God chooses to reveal himself to us through weakness and suffering, most obviously by saving the world from sin by sending his only Son as a human being to die on a cross. The Theology of Glory is about how we humans seek God in the obvious things like power, strength, and glory. In turn, we search for ways to gain these things for ourselves.

This little passage about the interaction between Mary and Martha is all about the way Jesus is turning the world upside-down and acting in ways that are completely opposite to the way the world is.

To gain an understanding of how Jesus does this, we need to know the context. Jesus, the Twelve, and probably many others, arrive at Martha’s house which is at Bethany (we know from other accounts), not far from Jerusalem. Martha shows hospitality, welcoming them into her home and getting to work to prepare a meal for probably dozens of people. Meanwhile, Mary sits at Jesus’ feet to listen to his teaching.

Martha is understandably upset with Mary because she would need all hands on deck in the kitchen, but there’s something else here too. In those days, when rabbis were teaching, their students sat on the ground around them to listen and learn in order to one day become rabbis themselves. It was not acceptable for a woman to do this. These days, we do allow women to sit and listen to our lecturers at ALC, but the current church teaching is that only men can become pastors. Martha was outraged that Mary would be bold enough to sit at Jesus’ feet among the would-be rabbis.

Not only that, but Jewish households also had strict boundaries for men, women, and children. Only the men would sit in the public spaces in the house, like the dining room or lounge room, while women were restricted to the kitchen and other private parts of the house. The only place men and women mixed was in the married bedroom or outside, where women looked after the children.

So, not only is Mary neglecting Martha as she got busy making everyone comfortable and cooking, but she is also crossing multiple cultural boundaries. Mary would have known exactly what she was doing but she did it anyway.

It’s completely reasonable, then, for Martha to say to Jesus, “Doesn’t it concern you that Mary has left me to prepare everything? Tell her to help me.”

We should expect Jesus to say, “You’re right. Mary, go and help Martha. Dozens of people have suddenly showed up expecting a meal, so you should give her a hand.”

Luke places this account just after last week’s gospel, the Parable of the Good Samaritan. He’s making a point that Jesus is crossing some serious cultural barriers and turning the world upside-down. This interaction between Mary, Martha, and Jesus is all about the way Jesus responds to this conundrum.

I wonder whether Martha’s position is actually somewhat similar to our own at times. As Christians, and specifically as Lutherans, we have our set ways of doing things. These things, like the Jewish customs around men and women for example, have been established over many, many years. Things like the way we do worship, the agreement between our two congregations around the pastor’s time, our routine of Communion services, the third Sunday lunch… You could extend the list.

All these things have benefits and good reasons behind them. The Jewish customs were based on Scripture—you can read the directions about boundaries in households word-for-word in places like Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Our own customs and habits as a church were only created very recently in that context.

I’m not suggesting we need to chuck it all out, but I am asking the question today because the text is asking the question: what if Jesus asked us to cross one of those boundaries? What if he wanted us to see his kingdom in a new way? How would we feel? Probably a lot like Martha, who had very good reasons behind her expectations.

Let’s see how Jesus responds to Martha’s request:

But the Lord answered her and said, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things. One thing is necessary: for Mary has chosen the good portion which will not be taken away from her.”

I’m reminded of a passage in Matthew 6. I’ll read it out because I think it speaks for itself:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  

Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Jesus calls us to be in the present with him. Sit at his feet and listen to his teaching. If we let ourselves be guided by his Word, through which we receive his Holy Spirit, tomorrow will take care of itself.

This is where Mission Statements are valuable. If the statement is known and often used, it will help to keep a congregation focussed on what is most important. Whenever a new idea is had or an event is being held, we can ask: “Does what we’re doing help to fulfill God’s mission for us?” Most Mission Statements are roughly the same, talking about gathering to hear the Word and then go out loving and serving others.

Does anyone know the St Paul’s mission statement?

“We are here to grow in Christ and share his love with each other and the community.”

Mary chose the good portion that day. The Son of God was in her home, and she did not waste the opportunity to sit at his feet and listen to him. This was an act of absolute faith.

Today, you have come to receive the good portion, the gospel, in the spoken Word but also in Jesus’ own body and blood, the Word incarnate. This is what grows us in Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit. This is what equips and empowers us to share his love with each other and the community.

As Jesus said of Mary: “One thing is necessary: for [you have] chosen the good portion which will not be taken away from [you].”

Jesus is the bread of life. Whoever comes to him will never be hungry or thirsty again. God may be calling us as his church to adapt to the world that is changing around us, but no matter where we meet, what time we meet, or even who we meet with, one thing is necessary: receive the good portion of his Word and Sacrament today, which will never be taken away.

Seek first the kingdom of God, which is an upside-down kingdom and shows itself in ways we don’t expect, and he will provide everything we need to love him and serve one another.