Let’s start the year off with the first of two tales from the Bible concerning sisters.  From Luke 10 (English Standard Version):

³⁸ Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

This story picks up after Jesus’ transfiguration and the turn towards Jerusalem and his impending crucifixion.  And so, along the way, a woman named Martha invites Jesus into her house with the sense of entertaining and engaging with him.  And this certain Martha has a sister, Mary, who sits and listens to the guest while her sister waits on everyone, playing the host.  Luke describes her distracted, drawn away.  Jesus then acknowledges that she is anxious and troubled, not words you want to hear from anyone, really.  The one who welcomed Jesus in is anxious, agitated, and seemingly envious or angry that her sister is sitting there, “doing nothing.”  But it’s the one things that Mary is doing that Jesus labels “necessary,” the real business that needs to be done.  And that necessary thing is “the good portion,” the thing that can’t be taken away like empty or dirty dishes.

It’s s frustrating story for a busy and anxious culture, and especially so for a busy and anxious church/faith culture.  We say we want to be Mary, but it is much easier for us to be Martha.  Easier and seemingly all-important . . . until Jesus reminds Martha, and us, otherwise.

I’ve thought about these two sisters in this particular moment a good bit these last few months,  mostly as I have tried to make sense of these last few years and as a way of shaping my approach to the years ahead.  And as I have thought through these things, I think I’ve come to this conclusion, a conclusion that I would like to become a conviction:

Be Mary as much as  possible, be Martha when it is good and right, but never be Martha without Jesus.  

I’m going to come back around to this later.  Tomorrow I’d like to consider one more pair of sisters from earlier in the Biblical Story and makes and unfortunate connection between the two and our current moment.

(many thanks to BibleHub.com for translation help)