Eating with Jesus - Mary and Martha - 30 March 2025

Dear friends of BCUC,The story of Jesus’ interaction with Mary and Martha has become so embedded in our culture that people today often refer to it without realising the full background. You can even take online tests to determine whether you're more of a “Mary” or a “Martha.” The common understanding is that if you’re a “doer,” then you’re a Martha; if you prefer to sit, be still, and listen, then you’re a Mary. In some ways, it’s the difference between a “human doing” and a “human being.”The story from the Bible is a challenging one. Jesus, his disciples, and likely a few others had come to the house of sisters Mary and Martha—and their brother Lazarus—for dinner and teaching. It’s possible this happened with very little notice. In their culture, hospitality was of great importance, especially for a guest as significant as Jesus, the now-famous Rabbi and miracle worker. Crowds would walk across wilderness areas or push through seas of people just to get close to him, to touch his cloak or hear his words. To have him stay and eat at your house would be a tremendous honour.Imagine getting a knock on your door right now, opening it to find a group of 12 or more men asking when dinner will be ready! I know it was a challenge to find hosts for our recent hospitality dinners willing to have more than eight church people over—and that was with months of notice! But Mary and Martha hosted the crowd. Martha, understandably, was busy in the kitchen getting everything ready. Mary, rather than helping her overworked sister, sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to his teaching—alongside the men! A serious cultural taboo.When Martha asks Jesus to send Mary back to help, Jesus surprises her with his response. He tells Martha that Mary has chosen the better thing, and that Martha is worried and distracted by many things, while Mary is focused on the one thing that matters most. Ouch—that must’ve stung a bit.The message from Jesus is that relationship is more important than hosting perfection. How many of us put off inviting others over and building friendship because we’re waiting for the house to be spotless or the food to be gourmet? I wonder if Jesus knocked on our door and said, “Can I come over for dinner?” would we respond, “Yes please… how about Tuesday in three weeks’ time?”When we come close to Jesus, are we waiting to get everything perfect in our lives before letting him in?Other kings, queens, and world leaders might be offended if we don’t fuss around and get everything right but Jesus wants our attention and a listening ear rather than attention to detail and glistening chandelier. For that I am thankful.Enjoy coming along this Sunday—or watching online or listening to our podcast. Our preacher this week is Lauren Hansen, whom our church supports in her chaplaincy role with university students in the Adelaide CBD.Your brother in Christ,Benji