Mary, the sister of Martha, sits at the feet of Jesus listening to him speaking. We do not really know who else is in the house with them, and Luke does not tell us what Jesus was speaking about, so as to draw our focus solely on the conflict that arises between Martha and Mary. The focus of this encounter as presented by Luke, it so that we can gain yet further insight into the approach to the tasks life that Jesus hands on to his disciples.
The laws and customs regarding hospitality ran very deep in the ancient world. Borne, likely, from the nomadic lifestyle of their ancestors, and of the Bedouin who still lived among them, the Jewish people extended extraordinary hospitality to visitors, and especially to strangers. This is in evidence in the First Reading as we hear of the encounter between Abraham and the three men who visit him. Though he had no idea that he was hosing the Angels of the Lord, Abraham paid due and proper respect to his guests. As he sat at their feet and listened to them, as his wife Sarah prepared a meal for them, he gave them the honor and dignity of guests. Not knowing he was in the presence of the Lord, he treated the Lord with due reverence. Sarah, though busy with preparing the meal, paid attention to the conversation and even engaged them in the conversation. This, too, was a necessary aspect of hospitality. When we have a guest we ought to pay attention to the guest and give them the respect that is their due.
Martha models poor hospitality. Yes, she is making sure that the meal is prepared, the table set, and everything is perfect. There is an aspect of this that is also good hospitality. We respect our guests when we have a clean home, timely presented food, and a sense of warmth and welcome. However, being a proper host and extending hospitality in the world of the ancient Israelites and Jewish people was more about the relationship.
When you walk the narrow streets of Old Jerusalem you will encounter many small shops and shopkeeps hocking many different items. However, their goal is not merely the purchase, the entire process of the sale is important. This includes conversation of home and family. It will inevitably include the offer of a drink and perhaps even a sweet. Once the hospitality has been given and there is a relationship, then the negotiations of the purchase can commence. It is a serious faux pas to accept the hospitality without making the purchase.
Even though it is passing – 20 minutes or a half-hour at most – the establishment of a relationship built upon the hospitality is essential to the experience and to the culture.
Martha has failed at this with Jesus. She is not engaged with him, and indeed she seems oblivious to whatever he is speaking about with Mary and the others. Her selfish attitude and her attempt to drag Jesus into a sibling conflict with Mary certainly makes her look small and petty.
While we often reflect on this event as a matter of conflict between active and passive discipleship, or active prayer and contemplative prayer, such a reading does not do full service to the message of Jesus. He is not saying that being quiet and sitting is better than being busy. He is saying that when one has a guest, one has to treat that guest with hospitality. The treatment of other people – the respect and dignity due to all made in the image and likeness of God – is at the heart of this section of Luke’s Gospel. It is a natural follow-up to the parable we heard last Sunday, that of the Good Samaritan.
Pay attention to other people – how else can we treat them with love? Put down the cell phone or turn off the television at dinner and listen to the others at table with you. Jesus reminds us that as with Sarah and Martha we might just be entertaining angels. Certainly, we pray, we are entertaining saints.
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.