Martha, Martha, Martha...

Today: Luke 10-11

Tell me you’ve watched “The Brady Bunch” … at least once. Otherwise, I’ve just made a totally uncool confession for anyone in the blogosphere/Magic Land of Facebook to read.

I’ve only seen re-runs myself, but I always remembered the classic middle sister episode where Jan is SO OVER all of her older sister Marcia’s talent, beauty, and awards…and all the attention that comes with them…when she yells, “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!” in disgust.

It’s a human tradition to point fingers, get annoyed and critique how someone else has made our lives miserably unfair (whether or not they happen to be our sisters with “groovy” hair)…even going so far as to complain to God.

Have you ever had a moment where you’ve thought something like, “God—you should really do something about that obnoxious co-worker of mine. You know—the girl who brings cooked tuna casserole for lunch in the middle of cubicle land. No one wants to continue inhaling her Chicken of the Sea until 3:00 PM. That’s SO inconsiderate!”?

Or perhaps, “Dear Jesus—please tell me there’s a special place in Hell reserved for people who can’t merge properly on the freeway. Hello?!?”

(Okay, so I’m exaggerating a little for comedic purposes, but you get the picture, right?)

Today, I remembered the Brady Bunch when I read about a woman named Martha who complains about her sister, Mary, to Jesus. Here it is:

As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village.

A woman by the name of

Martha welcomed him

and made him feel quite at home.

She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master,

hanging on every word he said.

But Martha was pulled away

by all she had to do

in the kitchen.

Later, she stepped in,

interrupting them.

"Master, don't you care

that my sister

has abandoned

the kitchen to me?

Tell her to lend me a hand."
The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha,

you're fussing far too much

and getting yourself worked up

over nothing.

One thing only is essential,

and Mary has chosen it—

it's the main course,

and won't be taken from her."

I've read this passage before, but today I noticed perhaps for the first time that Martha was the one who welcomed Jesus and made Him feel at home. I guess I always pictured her...and some readers won't like this language...as a total biznatch. :) But no--Martha had hospitality. Perhaps she was even the one who invited Jesus? (We don't know for sure.)

Martha lost sight of the essential--listening to Jesus, spending time with Jesus--in the busyness of getting herself worked up over "nothing," as Jesus put it. Sound familiar?

I think the main points of Jesus' rebuke were to a) focus her critique on her own issues versus someone else and 2) focus on the big picture of spending time with God versus getting too overwhelmed by a self-made to-do list for serving Him.

I actually feel a bit sorry for Martha. I think we all have Martha moments. The next time I do, I hope Jan Brady's voice saying, "Martha, Martha, Martha..." comes to mind, makes me stop and smile.

Tomorrow: Luke 12-13