Thread by @crazypastor

It’s that time when Christian churches around the world look at the well-known –– but oft misunderstood — story of Mary and Martha.

When we look at Luke’s overall narrative, when we recognize the context, I think we see this story in a new light.

I would like to quote from my friend and colleague, the Rev. @micahkrey:

“The Gospel of Luke is always interrogating the system that creates oppression and unfair dynamics.”

Y’all.

Might I remind everyone that there are *at least twelve men* standing around?

What if this story is commenting on the fact — a fact too often borne out in church circles — that the women are doing the work, and the men are standing around doing not much of anything?

What if this story isn’t Jesus speaking to Martha only…but Jesus speaking to all of us?

“The Gospel of Luke is always interrogating the system that creates oppression and unfair dynamics.”

Pastor Micah is right.

That interrogation leads to Jesus’ mother singing arguably the most radical hymn in all Scripture (Luke 1:46-55).

That interrogation leads to people trying to kill Jesus himself for having the audacity to preach the Word to them (Luke 4:29).

That interrogation leads to confrontations with religious authorities over the true meaning of fasting and praying (Luke 5:34).

That interrogation leads to confrontations with religious authorities over the true meaning of the Sabbath (Luke 6:9).

That interrogation leads to Jesus upending the entire notion that good works gets you any closer to heaven (Luke 7:34).

That interrogation leads to a radical reorientation of “family values” [and hint: it’s nothing like what James Dobson might tell you] (Luke 8:21).

That interrogation leads to a brutal denunciation of the health-and-wealth gospel and all its demonic sycophants (Luke 12:20).

That interrogation leads to a radical shift in power dynamics, fully treasonous to the Roman Empire under which Jesus lived (Luke 14:21).

That interrogation leads to a parable that flat-out says respectability politics will get you nowhere (Luke 18:5).

That interrogation leads to Jesus proclaiming that salvation isn’t a pie-in-the-sky-by-and-by pipe dream, but right here and right now, today, and is even dependent upon that radical economic justice he preached about earlier (Luke 19:9).

The interrogation of Luke’s Gospel does not skip over this verse or that one: it is present underneath all of them.

Context is so important, even in a seemingly banal thing, like how we say those two words from Jesus when he first speaks in this story: “Martha, Martha.”

Is this a plea? Is it annoyance?

I think it is decidedly neither, but a way getting the attention of everyone in the room. Martha, Martha, in essence, is saying, Disciples, disciples! Pay attention.

He tells Martha this, but it’s really for everyone: there is only need of one thing.

And what is that one thing? We already know. Jesus told us a few chapters earlier.

Preach good news to the poor, freedom to the captive, liberation to the oppressed, proclaim the year of radical economic justice.

Context is everything.