Gloria Dei Lutheran Church

Luke 10: 38-42

Are you familiar with the Bechdel Test for movies? It’s a test developed by Allison Bechdal, who at first meant it as a joke but it’s become a frequently used metric in cultural film discussions.

Here is the test which you can apply to any movie:

1. Does the movie have at least 2 women who are given names?
2. Do they talk to each other?
3. About something other than a man?

That’s it. That’s the whole test. Results may surprise you. Or not surprise you at all. Anyway, there are lists available online so you can google and find out where your favorite movies land.

I often think of this test when I’m reading biblical texts. Yes, I understand it’s comparing apples and oranges. I think it’s possible that this one would pass the test if we got to hear the discussion between Mary and Martha. I’d like to give it the benefit of the doubt. But it’s still sort of an irritating story. We finally get a Gospel story centered not only on 1 female but 2, but it pits the 2 women against each other.

My second issue is that we set it up as a binary: Throughout my life in church work, this story has almost always been set up as one or the other. We are either a Mary or a Martha. And I don’t like either option because in our retelling and reading of the story, each woman has become a stereotype.

Martha is busy homemaker. I would like to add that Pastor Sarah kindly pointed out that we put Martha in a kitchen even though there is no mention of a kitchen in the text. This is the picture that comes to my mind when I think of Martha. It’s from the Spark Story Bible, which I love and appreciate. We spent a good amount of time in this book when my kids were small. This picture of Martha used to make my oldest, Marley, belly laugh. Because Martha is doing the most. She’s working so hard that she’s stirring that pot with her foot. And she looks so very overwhelmed.

So this image is in my head. Apron securely fastened around her waist, dishcloth in hand. The minute you walk in her door, she’s ushering you to the table and running to the kitchen to put the coffee on. Bringing plates of cookies and cute little napkins. Back to the kitchen to refill your coffee cup. The message I’ve heard about Martha is that she fusses. Because you know how women fuss.

 

Quite frankly, when I am on the receiving end of Martha’s fussing, I get a little teary with gratitude. Because it feels so good to be taken care of. Except the story is told in a way that we aren’t supposed to like Martha. Or want to be like her.

While Mary…well, she’s just so serene…is probably wearing a flowing skirt and has all the time in the world to sit and listen to you.

We are asked if we are a doer or a listener. Then, we are reminded to stop doing all the things and be like Mary. But, please first pass that plate of cookies that Martha has prepared.

And what exactly are we supposed to do with the role of hospitality?
Martha behaves like every person I know. Extending hospitality to those who come to the door. World-wide, throughout history, throughout Christian history, cross-culturally, hospitality is a vital practice.

The expectation that God’s people are people who will welcome strangers and treat them justly runs throughout the Bible. In 2025, we have to keep saying this over and over to remind ourselves and everyone around us that we are people who welcome strangers and treat them justly. We do this because of the hospitality God has shown to us.

The story of Mary and Martha is by no means telling us that acts of hospitality are unimportant. Or that meal preparation is a lesser duty. The Gospel of Luke is full of stories of meals-picnics, banquets, even the institution of the ritual meal that we celebrate as Holy Communion. And behind each of these meals is someone chopping, cooking, baking, pouring, cleaning. Back in Easter season, we had a story of Jesus himself preparing shore lunch for the fishing disciples. It was Jesus who built a fire, baked bread, fried the fish, fussed.

Can you imagine the poverty of life in this church without the role of potlucks, coffee hour, First Sunday Coffee Parties, funeral lunches, Wednesday night dinners during confirmation? It’s unimaginable.

If this well-worn text isn’t about choosing Mary over Martha, or about forgoing hospitality…then what is it about?

Think of how much courage Mary must have had!  To set down the cultural expectations of helping Martha run the household. She found the strength to forgo the cultural role that women had during that time and place.

Think of what Mary had to resist within her own self in order to sit at the feet of Jesus, a place traditionally occupied by men.

Of course, this raises all sort of anxiety within Martha. Not to mention her blood pressure. She happens to mention this to Jesus…and what is Jesus’ response? Jesus  honors Mary! And he honors the breaking of this clearly defined boundary. He breathes his life-giving peace into all that anxiety and invites Martha in. Jesus invites Martha in. It’s possible we hear Jesus’ words to Martha as a scold but I don’t think that’s the tone. Jesus is simply offering a chance for Martha to see her worth. To see that her worth isn’t measured in her productivity or how much she can accomplish or her ability to get things done. Her ability to do those things are glorious. But. It is not what defines her. Martha’s is valued because she is a child of God. Beloved.

Which is true for each of you. Man, you all can get things done. What Gloria Dei does collectively is a wonder to behold. But that is not what makes you worthy of love or worthy of being a part of this church or worthy of your children’s love or your parents respect. You are beloved simply and powerfully because you are a creature, created in the image of God.

Martha is distracted and worried. Right. Who isn’t? Distracted and worried describes most of us. We humans might be experiencing more than ever. I feel like I have some concrete evidence in the fact that someone in my household has been hit by another driver not once, not twice but four times this year. No injuries. But each accident was another driver distracted by something. Scheduling vehicles for repairs is a lame hobby that I have somehow developed.

The word “worry” itself comes from an old Anglo-Saxon term meaning to choke, or strangle. What anxiety has a choke hold on you? Do you know anyone who worries so much that they have become good at it? One of my grandma’s was a skilled worrier. Not to brag, but having now arrived in 50’s, I’m getting better at worrying. But I’m also getting better at unhitching from it. Breath prayers help. Inhaling and exhaling slowly, Jesus, help me. Jesus, help me.

One question for us today is: where might this good news, this good news that Christ invites us in, anxieties and all, need to be heard?

Is it possible that this Gospel is less about choosing our inner Martha or our inner Mary and more about freedom? We know Jesus is all about freedom. Just a couple weeks ago, our text from Galatians said, “For freedom Christ has set us free.” I mean freedom is the point.

One thing. Jesus says we need one thing. Jesus says, we are worried and distracted by many things, but we need one thing. What is the one thing you need? Take a beat and think about your own life today. What is the one thing you need? Rest? Connection? Forgiveness? Healing? A break? To rebuild trust? Ease? Joy?

My prayer for you is that you are able to identify the one thing you need right now. That you find the courage to say it outloud. And then advocate for yourself to have the need met. That you are able to set down all the many things that get in the way of thing you actually need.

Wherever you are. Whatever the need. Just like Mary. Just like Martha. You are invited in and met by Jesus.