Contemplative Bible Reading

Luke 10:41-42 (Holman Standard Christian Bible)

41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Here is the story of the admirable Mary and that Martha who just didn’t understand what was happening. Right(?).

Martha was distracted in all her preparations. Jesus chided her. Jesus also told her that Mary was doing right. I have to think back to Cain and Abel. God complimented Abel and chided Cain. And then Cain murdered Abel.

Martha took the chiding. We aren’t told what happened next. We know that Martha didn’t follow the example of Cain and kill Mary. Let’s admire Martha for her reaction. She swallowed her pride and took the admonition of Jesus to heart.

Let us all be like Martha. Perhaps this episode is really about her, not Mary. Perhaps Martha is the subject of admiration here.