I’m glad you mentioned Martha as we see her in John. Truthfully, I never paid much attention in that story to which sister said what to Jesus. After hearing so many sermons titled “Martha, Martha,” I’m afraid I didn’t give her any more thought. I’ll have to meditate on this for a while. You raise an interesting idea that the sisters offer different–and appropriate–responses based on their calling and personality. Thanks for sharing this!–Dan

I’m glad you mentioned Martha as we see her in John. Truthfully, I never paid much attention in that story to which sister said what to Jesus. After hearing so many sermons titled “Martha, Martha,” I’m afraid I didn’t give her any more thought. I’ll have to meditate on this for a while. You raise an interesting idea that the sisters offer different–and appropriate–responses based on their calling and personality. Thanks for sharing this!–Dan

It reminds me of one of my own favorite lines from scripture, Psalm 16:

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup …
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
yea, I have a goodly heritage.

Have you ever meditated much on Martha? I only recently began meditating on her, not in Luke’s portrayal of her, but in John’s, in the story of the death of Lazarus in chapter 11. It’s made me feel a little guilty over how I’ve passed over her in the past as being too caught up in “worldly” things and busyness – and made me feel I have much to learn from her.

After Lazarus’ death, Martha, not Mary, is the one who goes out to meet Christ, and confesses her faith and trust in him and in the resurrection, while Mary remains at home in grief. Martha, the hard-working realist, in this scene may have been closer to reality than Mary: the reality that in Christ, we will live forever, and so should not despair even in death.

It’s just a thought; but here may be a key for helping develop a spirituality of the laity, living and working in the midst of the world and family. It’s a constant dilemma for us in the world who long to be close to Christ.

It reminds me of one of my own favorite lines from scripture, Psalm 16:

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup …
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
yea, I have a goodly heritage.

Have you ever meditated much on Martha? I only recently began meditating on her, not in Luke’s portrayal of her, but in John’s, in the story of the death of Lazarus in chapter 11. It’s made me feel a little guilty over how I’ve passed over her in the past as being too caught up in “worldly” things and busyness – and made me feel I have much to learn from her.

After Lazarus’ death, Martha, not Mary, is the one who goes out to meet Christ, and confesses her faith and trust in him and in the resurrection, while Mary remains at home in grief. Martha, the hard-working realist, in this scene may have been closer to reality than Mary: the reality that in Christ, we will live forever, and so should not despair even in death.

It’s just a thought; but here may be a key for helping develop a spirituality of the laity, living and working in the midst of the world and family. It’s a constant dilemma for us in the world who long to be close to Christ.