Daily Mass Gospel Reflection - Choosing Anxiety

Word on Fire Ministry ^ | 10-05-2021 | Aux. Bishop R. Barron

[MurphsLaw]

TWENTY-SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

LUKE 10:38-42

Friends, today’s Gospel is the story of Martha and Mary. I’d like to offer a fresh take on this famous little story. One of the principal marks of Jesus’ teaching and ministry is the overturning of social conventions. And one of the most striking and surprising of Jesus’ moves was a radical inclusion of women.

While this typically women’s work was going on, men would sit out in the main room of the residence and talk. If a prominent rabbi or Pharisee were present, the men would sit at his feet and listen to his words.

Now we can see why Mary’s attitude was so offensive to Martha and probably to everyone else in the room. Martha wasn’t simply mad that Mary was giving her more work to do; she was mad that Mary had the gall to assume the stance of a man, to take up her position in the men’s space.

In his response to Martha’s complaint, Jesus signals more than a preference for listening over acting; he invites a woman into full participation in the life of discipleship. “Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

[MurphsLaw]

Jesus entered a village
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me.”
The Lord said to her in reply,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”+++

[wbarmy]

Forgive my question, but where in the scripture does it show the men were mad at Mary for assuming that position? And since Martha specifically spoke about her need for help, how does that translate to Martha being mad that Mary is taking the position of men?

This seems like a little bit of “wokeness” is being interpolated within this commentary.

[MurphsLaw]

... but where in the scripture does it show the men were mad at Mary for assuming that position?

No you are correct, the word "mad" is not used- the implication is being drawn out of the assumed context.
Can it also be assumed you haven't had sisters or sisters-in-laws who at one time or another were peeved that one of them was not pulling their weight in the kitchen? Lord, I can, and Jesus wasn't even the guest.

However, it is safe to assume the work load was a lot to have Jesus over for dinner- and as it was Martha who had invited Jesus into her home - she would have wanted to make a good impression- as any hostess would.
Can we assume Mary was all on board to help Martha for the occasion- until she was in the presence of Jesus? Did Mary reneg pn helping - and tossing aside how she should conduct herself in accord with what was required of Jewish women.. Can we assume Mary blew off Martha's request for help, causing her to go straight to her guest for help? A last resort attempt to get Mary back in line with what Martha wanted her to do? And could Martha being having a bad day and was tired from the excitement- and ticked off about more things than just Mary- causing the Lord to see her anxiety?

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things...

Maybe "displeased" could be used instead of "mad"....
But do not be deceived... "Hell hath no fury...."

[wbarmy]

Please remember, I stated where did the scripture show the MEN were getting mad at Mary, not Martha.

I have 3 daughters and a sister and a dozen aunts and everything you said is spot on. Sometimes they get angry or peeved. However, the point of the article is that they, Mary and the men, were angry because Mary was supplanting a man’s place in front of Jesus.

I understand the “needing help” issue, but I think the supplanting of a man’s place never came up for Jesus or His disciples. Women were active in all of the activities of Jesus except in the specific job of Apostle.

[MurphsLaw]

Please remember, I stated where did the scripture show the MEN were getting mad at Mary, not Martha.

Wow, thats a lot of hormones for sure... But yes, you are right. I didn't read correctly what you replied with exactly.
It's an honest oversight on my part though, since subconsciously I must have known that the "men were mad" as you wrote it, were not the ones described as being mad at all - rather more of being "offended". The post is clear:

"Now we can see why Mary’s attitude was so offensive to Martha and probably to everyone else in the room.
Martha wasn’t simply mad that Mary was giving her more work to do: she was mad that Mary had the gall to assume the stance of a man, to take up her position in the men’s space.

You have to know in Jewish law and custom- as these were Jews we are speaking of- women were considered possesions and second class citizens. You have to no the Jewish Leaders would have a gripe her with the inclusion of women. From the 1ast commandment given Moses about not coveting those things (wife /possessions) owned by another- to the uncleanliness of the woman during menstruation- Jewish women were relegated below the level of equal to that of a man. That's not debatable at all.

In fact- looking deeper now- it is precisely THIS scripture reading- as the Bishop is asking the reader to look at in a "radically" new light - but it's precisiely here where he tells Martha- "No Mary has chosen correctly - to sit with him, with the Men, for the purpose of "invites a woman into full participation in the life of discipleship. "
Where as the Rabbi of the day would not let Women participate fully in Jewish culture - Christ again - is " overturning of social conventions.
And that was 2000 years ago... Heck- Woman only got the right to vote 100 years ago in this country !! (and I won't make any comment on how that has worked out either !)

[wbarmy]

Fine, anyone can believe any reading of the scripture they want to and add whatever they want. But the plain English reading says nothing about the what any man there thought about Mary, except for Jesus. And Martha was asking for help, not condemning her for filling a man’s role.

But this is how this woke stuff starts, allegorical and adding to Scripture to see what they want to see, not what the Holy Spirit actually put there.

[ebb tide]

Martha wasn’t simply mad that Mary was giving her more work to do; she was mad that Mary had the gall to assume the stance of a man, to take up her position in the men’s space.

Is this Barron's subtle support for womyn priests?

[ebb tide]

Jesus signals more than a preference for listening over acting; he invites a woman into full participation in the life of discipleship.

Never mind my previous question.

It's obvious now that Barron supports womyn priests.

[MurphsLaw]

Well, I guess your right... and who needs allegory in their Bible when we have the plain English..
And with over 100 English language Bible translations out there, theres plenty of options to find the right one.

[wbarmy]

That is very misleading. There might be a a plethora of English Bibles, but the vast majority agree on over 99% of the original language and that none of these disagreements affect a major Christian doctrine. This article might help you.

https://www.crossway.org/articles/why-are-there-so-many-versions-of-the-bible/

[wbarmy]

where he tells Martha- "No Mary has chosen correctly - to sit with him, with the Men, for the purpose of "invites a woman into full participation in the life of discipleship. "

I also take small exception to the lower case h in this, because we are talking about Jesus. Then the author adds "the men" into the sentence, where no such word exists. And conversely, we do not know if other women were also sitting there, Magdalene, and several other women were also usually with the Apostles, so why were they not there? The text doesn't say. The point of the text was Martha's worry about the work to feed and care for them, not Mary's sitting at the feet of Jesus. Martha couldn't ask the other women to help, they were not of her household. She could ask Mary, but Mary ignored her, because she felt there was something more important to do.