Mary and Martha

I like seeing things behind the scene. So, there I was reporting at a gathering of 5,000 "Marys", but I took a peek at what was cooking in the kitchen at the back by the "Marthas".

Yes, Mary and Martha - you do remember that homely  little incident recorded in the Gospel of Luke when Jesus comes into the home of Martha and Mary as an expected guest (Luke 10:39-42), don't you?

Here is an extract from a sermon by Ray Stedman on peace and absence of peace -

Martha, like any good housewife, goes out into the kitchen and gets busy trying to get a dinner ready for Jesus. She becomes all distracted and upset. You women know how she feels. She loves him, but since he has arrived unexpectedly she hasn't prepared anything. Nevertheless she tries her best, going through all the resources of her kitchen, to get something special ready for him.

You can imagine her in there, can't you? -- opening the cupboards and slamming the doors, opening the refrigerator, wondering "What shall I do?" She gets all anxious and troubled. She begins to burn her fingers and spill things. The coffee boils over and everything is a mess.

Soon she can take no more. She goes into the living room where Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to him quietly. And Martha explodes and blames the whole thing on Jesus. That is characteristic of a troubled heart. She says, "Lord, don't you even care that Mary has left me to serve alone?"

I've always appreciated the fact that Martha at least got it off her chest. She wasn't one of those women who go into frigid silences, with icicles hung all around the room for weeks. It has always seemed to me that she is aptly described by the rhyme that goes,

There's a gladness in her gladness when she's glad,
       And a sadness in her sadness when she's sad.
    But the gladness in her gladness,
       And the sadness in her sadness,
    Are nothing to her madness when she's mad!

This is Martha when she comes into the living room. And think of it! So distracted and upset, so troubled is she that she blames the one she wants to bless.

Do you remember his answer? "Martha, Martha, you are so full of care and troubled about many things. But Mary has chosen the one thing which is needful," (Luke 10:41-42).

What is that? Peace. Mary chose it by listening to One who could set her thoughts aright, could set her mind at ease.

And, for the benefit of anyone who is concerned, in the Greek the account does indicate that Mary had already been out in the kitchen and had done her part, had prepared a simple little repast that was perfectly adequate.

But Martha wanted to put on a banquet, and she didn't have what it took. So she was all upset and distracted and anxious about the whole affair. Mary had chosen the one thing needful -- peace.

As for my story of 5000 Marys and some 20 Marthas - it was all peace - such is the simplicity of rural community.