Luke 10 v 38-42

[mindlight]

"10:38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him as a guest. 10:39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he said. 10:40 But Martha was distracted with all the preparations she had to make, so she came up to him and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work alone? Tell her to help me.” 10:41 But the Lord answered her,“Martha, Martha,you are worried and troubled about many things, 10:42 but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the best part; it will not be taken away from her.”

Mary is praised for putting listening to Jesus above the frantic efforts of her elder sister Martha.

What does this passage mean to you:

1) Is this saying the comtemplative life is superior to the life of action?
2) Is this Mary and Martha the same ones as lived in Bethany? Did this Mary annoint Jesus and was her brother called Lazarus and her husband Simon the leper.
3) Why is Marys approach so much better than Marthas?
4) If 2) is true how come Jesus paid so much special attention to this family.
5) Are 5 course meals taboo for Christians cause they distract from prayer and worship?
6) Do you think that Martha ended up completing the meal or did they get a take away? Who do you think cleaned the dishes after the meal?

 

[icxn]

Have you been reading the Cloud of Unknowing?

A brother went to see Abba Silvanus on the mountain of Sinai. When he saw the brothers working hard, he said to the old man, "Do not labor for the food which perishes (John 6:27). Mary has chosen the good portion (Luke 10:42)."The old man said to his disciple, "Zacharias, give the brother a book and put him in a cell without anything else." So, when the ninth hour came the visitor watched the door expecting someone would be sent to call him to the meal.
When no one called him he got up, went to find the old man and said to him, "Have the brothers not eaten today?" The old man replied that they had. Then he said, "Why did you not call me?" The old man said to him, "Because you are a spiritual man and do not need that kind of food. We, being carnal, want to eat, and that is why we work. But you have chosen the good portion and read the whole day long and you do not want to eat carnal food."
When he heard these words the brother made a prostration saying, "Forgive me, Abba." The old man said to him, "Mary needs Martha. It is really thanks to Martha that Mary is praised." - The Desert Fathers

 

[sunlover1]

What does this passage mean to you:

1) Is this saying the comtemplative life is superior to the life of action?

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
and all these things will be added unto you..

I think He was saying first things first.
Priorities.

 

[childofGod31]

I've thought about it before. And I thought: well, if both Martha and Mary would sit and listen, who would do the food preparation?

And I have come to the conclusion that Jesus was talking about the attitude of the heart. I bet Martha's heart was totally consumed with how to best serve the meal and she probably didn't think much of what Jesus would be talking about. On the other hand, Mary was really looking forward to what Jesus would say. (And Martha could have just prepared a very simple meal, just to have nourishment. But I bet she wanted to shine as a hostess.)

So, I would have to agree: it's about priorities and a desire for heavenly things as opposed to earthly things. Of course we have to do the earthly things, but they should not consume us. They should not be too important.

 

[mindlight]

Have you been reading the Cloud of Unknowing?

Its an interesting point if we believe that Mary never did any food preparation. Jesus did seem to be a regular guest. He had healed Simon the leper(the husband), raised Lazarus (the brother) and been in conversation with Mary and Martha many times. Do you really think that Mary never cooked for him and the rest of the family.

But I think that Jesus was talking about attitudes of the heart and priorities here. Martha had ambitions to impress and to prepare an overly ambitious meal for the context. Mary was eager to learn and listen to her Master. Presumably Jesus could have talked to a less stressed out hostess while she prepared and he could have even helped with some of the preparation while he talked. Martha sounds like she was wound a little tight and the sort who would have been banging dishes around in the kitchen and sounds of stress and effort in order to try and win atention , sympathy and ultimately buy in for her frantic efforts. Martha needed to chill out a little more and realise that a simple meal was adequate in the circumstances.

So I am not sure that passage from Cloud of Unknowing is strictly accurate in its interpretation. Mary does not need a Martha like that. Fortunately we know from other passages that actually Martha was just having a bad day.

 

[icxn]

Its an interesting point if we believe that Mary never did any food preparation. Jesus did seem to be a regular guest. He had healed Simon the leper(the husband), raised Lazarus (the brother) and been in conversation with Mary and Martha many times. Do you really think that Mary never cooked for him and the rest of the family.

Of course not. We are talking about the two types of spiritual life. The contemplative and the life of action (offering hospitality and charity in general)

But I think that Jesus was talking about attitudes of the heart and priorities here. Martha had ambitions to impress and to prepare an overly ambitious meal for the context. Mary was eager to learn and listen to her Master. Presumably Jesus could have talked to a less stressed out hostess while she prepared and he could have even helped with some of the preparation while he talked. Martha sounds like she was wound a little tight and the sort who would have been banging dishes around in the kitchen and sounds of stress and effort in order to try and win atention , sympathy and ultimately buy in for her frantic efforts. Martha needed to chill out a little more and realise that a simple meal was adequate in the circumstances.

So I am not sure that passage from Cloud of Unknowing is strictly accurate in its interpretation. Mary does not need a Martha like that. Fortunately we know from other passages that actually Martha was just having a bad day.

I wasn't speaking of the particular event but the symbolism (your option 1). The quote I provided does not come from the Cloud of Unknowing (which is a good read if you are interested about monastic literature), but the Desert Fathers (Monks of Egypt of the 4th-7th century). I chose it because it portraits a balanced view between the two ways of monastic life.

Anyway, here's a short quote from the Cloud that speaks of these two ways of life:

Lo! friend, all these works, these words, and these gestures, that were shewed betwixt our Lord and these two sisters, be set in ensample of all actives and all contemplatives that have been since in Holy Church, and shall be to the day of doom. For by Mary is understood all contemplatives; for they should conform their living after hers. And by Martha, actives on the same manner; and for the same reason in likeness. (Chapter 17)
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