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Recently preached my 1st sermon on the DISASTROUS ways the Martha in the kitchen + Mary at Jesus’ Feet passage (Luke 10:38-42) has been used to control + dehumanize women. So here goes. 1/ https://twitter.com/kennisibueno/status/1194659377061474304">https://twitter.com/kennisibu...
“As they went on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha received him. She had a sister named Mary who ALSO was one who sat at the Lord’s feet, always listening to his words." (10:38-39)
Firstly, two things are immediately clear from the intro verses:
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Firstly, two things are immediately clear from the intro verses:
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Martha received Jesus alone, and BOTH she and Mary were his disciples. Lots if not most translations totally skip the word “ALSO” which is clearly present in the Greek, indicating that Mary AND Martha were “sitters at the Lord’s feet.”
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Secondly, this notion of “sitting at the Lord’s feet” isn’t a literal, physical thing - Mary prob wasn’t actually sitting at Jesus’ feet when this all went down. Instead, it was common vernacular at the time indicating discipleship. These sisters were both disciples of Jesus. 4/
Third, we know that their discipleship was active. These women were doing full time ministry. How do we know? Because verse 40 says this:
“But Martha was constantly PERSIPAO concerning much DIAKONIAN.”
Again, most translations turn “perispao” into “distracted.”
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“But Martha was constantly PERSIPAO concerning much DIAKONIAN.”
Again, most translations turn “perispao” into “distracted.”
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But what “perispao” actually means is “greatly troubled” — which according to biblical scholars indicates persistent, ongoing stress. So Martha is perpetually stressed out by burdens directly related to…DIAKONIAN.
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You guys. Throughout the New Testament this word “Diakonia” means “ministry.” The work of ministers — apostles, disciples, pastors, etc. Yet in THIS passage, for some reason this word is translated as “tasks.” I’m not gonna call the bible translators sexist, but they def are. 7/
Reality is, Martha, a disciple of Jesus, is overwhelmed not by menial tasks but by M I N I S T R Y.
So, she EPHISTEMI. She “set upon” or “attacked” or “confronted” Jesus, saying, “Lord! Does it not make YOU anxious that my sister has KATALIPO alone to DIAKONEIN?” 8/
So, she EPHISTEMI. She “set upon” or “attacked” or “confronted” Jesus, saying, “Lord! Does it not make YOU anxious that my sister has KATALIPO alone to DIAKONEIN?” 8/
This Greek word “katalipo” means “to leave” — to go away, to physically abandon or desert a place and go to another.
Again: Mary is so not in the home right now. Sister is gone. And she has left Martha alone to DIAKONEIN.
Diakonein is a variation of “ministry.”
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Again: Mary is so not in the home right now. Sister is gone. And she has left Martha alone to DIAKONEIN.
Diakonein is a variation of “ministry.”
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It’s not just cooking and cleaning; it’s all the work related to ministry & reflects the daily actions and practical work/service related to ministry.
Meaning while Mary is gone, Martha is making meals for the community, getting groceries for the poor, praying with people...10/
Meaning while Mary is gone, Martha is making meals for the community, getting groceries for the poor, praying with people...10/
She is visiting prisoners, taking care of kids, and doing all the other daily labor of a minister. AND SHE IS TIRED. So she tells Jesus to go find Mary and "EPO" -- command -- her to come home so she can help.
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This is where it gets kind of amazing.
Because Jesus answers her saying,
“Martha, Martha. You are MERIMNAS & THORYBAZE about POLLOS.”
Jesus names Martha - twice - calling her out of the Mary narrative and into her own body.
And he sees what’s **actually** going on.
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Because Jesus answers her saying,
“Martha, Martha. You are MERIMNAS & THORYBAZE about POLLOS.”
Jesus names Martha - twice - calling her out of the Mary narrative and into her own body.
And he sees what’s **actually** going on.
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Up to this point all we’re told is that she’s overburdened by the daily work of ministry.
But Jesus peels back that layer and names the True Truth:
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But Jesus peels back that layer and names the True Truth:
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Martha is MERIMNAS
- anxious to the point of being divided into pieces -
& THORYBAZE - agitated to the point of panic-
about POLLOS
-— many things. This last word, "pollos," is unrelated to ministry and is just (as my dear friend Sara likes to say) “all the alls.”
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- anxious to the point of being divided into pieces -
& THORYBAZE - agitated to the point of panic-
about POLLOS
-— many things. This last word, "pollos," is unrelated to ministry and is just (as my dear friend Sara likes to say) “all the alls.”
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Martha has confronted Jesus and told him to command Mary back home, and instead he calls her into herself and names all the real anxiety and agitation that’s tearing her apart — the anxiety and panic that she’s tried to bury with the busyness of ministry.
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And he tells her, “What Mary has chosen is a good portion, and it will not be taken from her.”
This is where that original myth of Mary physically sitting at the feet of Jesus becomes so problematic.
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This is where that original myth of Mary physically sitting at the feet of Jesus becomes so problematic.
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She’s not sitting at his feet -she’s a woman doing a disciple’s work with men in a world not made for or kind to women.
Her absence, not laziness, is what has Martha agitated. And Jesus says, “she’s chosen a [not the only!] good portion and I won’t take it away.”
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Her absence, not laziness, is what has Martha agitated. And Jesus says, “she’s chosen a [not the only!] good portion and I won’t take it away.”
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hHere is everything. I don’t think Martha’s burden of ministry is too much for her. That’s a front.
I think what’s really happening is that Martha loves her sister deeply & is anxious to the point of being torn apart over her absence.
I think she wants her sister home safe. 18/
I think what’s really happening is that Martha loves her sister deeply & is anxious to the point of being torn apart over her absence.
I think she wants her sister home safe. 18/
But Jesus tells her not to worry about Mary, because what Mary has chosen is a “good portion” — she’s well-suited to the ministry she’s doing, and can take care of herself.
So I think there are two absolutely critical things happening here.
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So I think there are two absolutely critical things happening here.
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First:
Jesus is calling Martha back to her own body, her own ministry, and her own heart.
He is naming her and validating her and SEEING her.
And second:
He is 100% NOT telling Martha to be more like Mary.
He is telling Martha to LET MARY BE MARY.
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Jesus is calling Martha back to her own body, her own ministry, and her own heart.
He is naming her and validating her and SEEING her.
And second:
He is 100% NOT telling Martha to be more like Mary.
He is telling Martha to LET MARY BE MARY.
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The coolest thing about Mary and Martha, I think, is that these two women were pioneers of a sort — the first “apostles of the apostles.” They became well-known matriarchs of the early church and were beloved and respected as such.
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But Martha? She gets such a bad rap when really her badassery is unmatched.
She is the community organizer who doesn’t sleep because police violence doesn’t sleep.
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She is the community organizer who doesn’t sleep because police violence doesn’t sleep.
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She is the church mother taking in and feeding the kids after finding their mom a suitable outfit to wear to an interview and making sure she had a ride and a few copies of her resume.
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She is the pastor taking meals to the home-bound while preaching at house church every Sunday, and making sure someone is there to greet Jesus when he comes to town.
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She is a woman in a man’s world doing “mens’ work” and is close enough with Jesus as his disciple to speak freely and plainly to him when she needs answers.
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Martha is tired and overworked.
And she persisted.
And by medieval times she was known as the Dragon Tamer, which is the legacy she leaves to us.
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And she persisted.
And by medieval times she was known as the Dragon Tamer, which is the legacy she leaves to us.
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SO HEY PEOPLE.
To you Marys who’ve been told to go home?
Don’t.
Don’t go home because Jesus didn’t call Mary home.
Whether you’re traveling doing the speaking circuit or the politics and lobbying circuit — keep doing it because it is your good portion.
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To you Marys who’ve been told to go home?
Don’t.
Don’t go home because Jesus didn’t call Mary home.
Whether you’re traveling doing the speaking circuit or the politics and lobbying circuit — keep doing it because it is your good portion.
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To you Marthas doing the tireless, thankless, endless work of ministry and activism at home?
Don’t stop, we need all the fucking Marthas we can get, and yours, too, is a good portion.
Hugs and Kisses, Bitches.
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Don’t stop, we need all the fucking Marthas we can get, and yours, too, is a good portion.
Hugs and Kisses, Bitches.
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PS: I’ve always hated this text which is why I went to the Greek, but I didn’t go on my own. I followed the lead of Mary Stromer Hansen who literally wrote the book on these sisters!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1620324814/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_8DzZDbN1AA827">https://www.amazon.com/dp/162032...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1620324814/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_8DzZDbN1AA827">https://www.amazon.com/dp/162032...
