Morning PrayerJohn 11:21-33
The Gospel reading set aside for this feast is actually that familiar story of Mary sitting at Jesus’s feet, Martha’s complaint, and our Lord’s gentle chiding of Martha. I actually dealt with this story from the Gospel of Luke back in May. I actually think that this section from John’s Gospel more fairly conveys the varied gifts of these two sisters.
Mary was the passionate one. She defied the social conventions of her time, and planted herself at Jesus’s feet, among the men, daring to be a student and apprenticed preacher of Jesus’s message. Later in John’s Gospel, Mary spends an extravagant amount of money to honor Jesus with perfumed nard, anticipating his death and quick burial before his body can be properly prepared. And when Jesus finally shows up at their home in Bethany – after waiting two days before he started for Bethany – it is Mary, passionate in her grief, who first refuses to meet Jesus. Then when Martha tells her that Jesus is asking for her, it is Mary who falls at Jesus’s feet and declares, “If you had been here, my brother would still be alive!”
Mary’s passion tugs at Jesus’s heart. But it is Martha who makes him proud. There is no reason to doubt Martha’s grief. She says the same thing as Mary to Jesus. And yet, amid her grief, she also professes her faith and trust in Jesus. Indeed, in John’s Gospel it is Martha who is first to declare that Jesus is the Messiah.
Mary is passionate in her devotion. Martha is steadfast in her faith. They are both to be honored equally, as are all the Marys and Marthas of today’s world.
The Gospel reading set aside for this feast is actually that familiar story of Mary sitting at Jesus’s feet, Martha’s complaint, and our Lord’s gentle chiding of Martha. I actually dealt with this story from the Gospel of Luke back in May. I actually think that this section from John’s Gospel more fairly conveys the varied gifts of these two sisters.
Mary was the passionate one. She defied the social conventions of her time, and planted herself at Jesus’s feet, among the men, daring to be a student and apprenticed preacher of Jesus’s message. Later in John’s Gospel, Mary spends an extravagant amount of money to honor Jesus with perfumed nard, anticipating his death and quick burial before his body can be properly prepared. And when Jesus finally shows up at their home in Bethany – after waiting two days before he started for Bethany – it is Mary, passionate in her grief, who first refuses to meet Jesus. Then when Martha tells her that Jesus is asking for her, it is Mary who falls at Jesus’s feet and declares, “If you had been here, my brother would still be alive!”
Mary’s passion tugs at Jesus’s heart. But it is Martha who makes him proud. There is no reason to doubt Martha’s grief. She says the same thing as Mary to Jesus. And yet, amid her grief, she also professes her faith and trust in Jesus. Indeed, in John’s Gospel it is Martha who is first to declare that Jesus is the Messiah.
Mary is passionate in her devotion. Martha is steadfast in her faith. They are both to be honored equally, as are all the Marys and Marthas of today’s world.
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