More than your job

There is a lot to do. It’s not just Jesus who has turned up on her front doorstep but his whole entourage. A whole lot of hungry mouths to be fed. Martha opens and closes pantry doors, working out how she can possibly stretch what she has to feed this many people. Martha kneads. She bakes. She chops and she fries. The dishes are piling up next to the sink but there is no time to do them. She goes over to Jesus and all the men sitting around, talking and listening. But it’s not just the men, it’s her sister Mary as well. Just sitting there. Mesmerised. And not helping Martha.

Martha interrupts the teacher. “Tell my sister to help me!” Tell my sister to get back into the kitchen, where she belongs. Jesus refuses. He tells Martha that her sister should stay exactly where she is – because this is the right place to be.

Here’s what I hope happens next. I hope Martha says, “Of course teacher,” and then takes her place next to Mary. “Oh, by the way,” she adds, “the bread should come out of the oven in 35 minutes. And if someone could crush the chickpeas to make the hummus, and catch the chicken that’s still running around, then we’ll have dinner on the way.”

I wonder what happens then? Do the people go hungry? Or do the blokes figure out the difference between a cucumber and a zucchini and cobble something together? Maybe the bread is burnt. Maybe the carrots are soggy. And maybe Martha gets to think about herself in a new way that day – as a disciple of Jesus. No just a host. Not just a woman. But a disciple of Jesus.

Are you more than what you do? And will it be a disaster if you stop doing what you do, for a moment, and sit at the feet of Jesus?