Martha

What happens when we dare to be different? When we take a step out from old habits, out-dated customs, or our own fears - that trap and confine us to be less than we are called to be? Both Mary and Martha were to find out….

Luke 10: 38-42

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him in her home. ³⁹ She had a sister named Mary, who sat down at the feet of the Lord and listened to his teaching. ⁴⁰ Martha was upset over all the work she had to do, so she came and said, “Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me!”⁴¹ The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha! You are worried and troubled over so many things, ⁴² but just one is needed. Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Martha’s Tale

They arrived early

More than expected

Hot and anxious

I became harassed and hasty         

Then I noticed Mary

Mary!

Sitting at Jesus feet

Drinking in every word

With all still to do

And I lost it

and what’s more

I lost it with Jesus

Women don’t get angry, do they?

Women may be disappointed, saddened

a little upset maybe

but not full on angry

It’s not done

Just like it isn’t done

for women to sit at the teacher’s feet

like the disciples were doing with Jesus

like my sister was doing

as I would’ve liked to do

absorbing every amazing word he spoke

Peter, Andrew, James, John and our Mary

Women just don’t do that

I was embarrassed for her

She was showing the family up

A woman’s place is in the kitchen

waiting on

feeding the family

cleaning up

It wasn’t seemly

and it wasn’t getting the jobs done

or the meal ready

and I lost it

Lord, I said to Jesus

my hands full of plates

and my eyes full of sparks

don’t you care

that my sister’s left me to do the work by myself?

Tell her to help me!

I can still remember the way

he looked at me

Martha, Martha

you’re worried and upset about many things

but only one thing is needed.

Mary has chosen what is better

and it will not be taken away from her.

And then to my deep mortification

he took the plates from my hands

and started laying the table

helping with the meal

Right! I thought

and when they ate

Mary and I joined the men

and ate with them

and that’s not done either

and after the meal

first Jesus and then the others helped

as we cleared away

and washed up

and then all of us

sat round Jesus and listened

and laughed and learnt

I even dared to ask a question

There’s no turning back

For Mary and I

we’re free

Jesus freed us

from the box our culture would keep us in

and our fear of going outside the box

Love and freedom, life and warmth

grace that blows all fear away

That was Mary and I that night

I still can’t believe I got angry with Jesus!