12.01.06 Lk. 10:38-42
JESUS WITH MARTHA AND MARY
38 While they were traveling, He entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what He said. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.”
41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Disciples and students always sat on the ground in respect for their teacher. In this case, it was Mary who “sat at the Lord’s feet” like a faithful disciple.[1] It was the cultural norm that rabbis stood when they read the Torah and sat when teaching. To sit at the teacher’s feet was ancient body language that said that the listener desired to be taught and would apply the instruction to his or her life. In this case, Martha was working hard to accommodate Jesus, while Mary, in Martha’s opinion, was just sitting there doing nothing. Jesus responds kindly by saying that the issues at hand were more important.
[1]. Lang, Know the Words of Jesus. 49.