Martha and Mary, Hospitality

People always talk about the story of Martha and Mary, as if one was the villain and one was the good girl. But let's analyze well what we can learn from both of them.

The Lord Jesus was used to resting at the house of this family when He went to Bethel, what a great privilege, for sure He had a great affection for them and felt welcomed in their home.

Mary, who showed a great hunger for spiritual things right away, placed herself at the feet of Jesus.

She forgot everything to be with Him, there was nothing that could distract her; she could and would not miss this opportunity. Marta liked taking care of housework; preparing meals, leaving everything in order for her guests, she was truly hospitable. Imagine receiving the Lord Jesus in your home, she wanted everything to be perfect, and you can understand her, can’t you?

That’s why Martha was angry when she saw that her sister did not help in anything.

The Lord Jesus had to interfere, and in a loving way rebuked Martha, but He was not criticizing her concern for the service she wanted to provide or rejecting her generous hospitality. He just wanted her to realize her priorities, putting spiritual things first and to not criticize Mary’s choice.

Some time later when her brother Lazarus died, Martha showed she had great faith in Jesus, believing He had the power to resurrect Lazarus, as He did. Nowadays with so many tasks, we must watch not to leave aside our time with God. Not that we are going to leave our home cluttered, but there is time for everything.

I know sometimes there is nobody to help, and we have many obligations to fulfill, but in the end of the day to make a quick prayer just to clear our conscious, only makes us feel like we are not giving our best to God. Maybe you have changed your time with God to be on the Internet, to watch television or talk on the phone hours, and when you look at the clock you realize there is no time left for your spiritual life. 

It is in these moments that we make the wrong choice, giving preference to so many other things and we forget the most important. Let’s have the qualities of Martha, but never abandon Mary’s good choice.