Disciples who also Slay Dragons
Colossians 1:15-20, Luke 10:38-42
We are most familiar with Martha of Bethany as the busy hostess. But did you know that she is also the key figure in a famous, medieval legend in which she subdues a dragon? According to the “golden legend,” which takes place after the resurrection of Jesus, Martha becomes a traveling preacher along with her siblings – taking the gospel to new lands. They wind up in a small town in France that, unfortunately, has a chronic dragon problem. Armed with only a vial of holy water and a cross, Martha manages to slay the dragon and, in doing so, wins the whole town over to Christianity. In that same legend, Martha’s sister Mary, on that same trip, ends up starting a monastery in the wilderness, meaning they both live out the roles assigned to them in Christian history: Martha represents an active faith, while Mary represents a contemplative faith. (Wyant)
This brief vignette we have in Luke 10, of Jesus, Martha, and Mary, is the main source of the roles assigned to these two women. Notice a theme that emerges in Luke. A few weeks ago we heard how Jesus sent the seventy ahead with no provisions for the journey and insisted they depend on the hospitality of those who welcomed them. Last week, we heard about a man who showed radical hospitality on the dangerous Jericho road. Here in today’s passage, Jesus and his disciples find themselves in need of hospitality while in Bethany, and there’s no question to whose house they will go. Martha’s house, of course. Only Luke relates this episode with Jesus, Mary, and Martha. The Gospel of John knows them as sisters of Lazarus. It’s from John that we get the impression that these three are among the best friends Jesus had. Their home in Bethany is Jesus’ home away from home. When he made his entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, it was from Bethany that he took off and it was to Bethany that he returned to gather himself for a few days before his final arrest. There is comfort in Bethany. There is a safe place to sleep and good food to eat and warm conversation.
There is no mention of Lazarus in Luke. In fact, Martha comes off as the head of household in this story. As it says, She welcomed Jesus into her home. She shows hospitality to him and his whole entourage.
We expect Jesus to affirm the one who welcomes them into her home and prepares all that is needed to make them comfortable. Our instincts tell us that Jesus shouldn’t chide his hostess for suggesting that Mary could also help with the work of caring for the guests. Hasn’t he just said to be gracious toward those who take them in? And “anyone who welcomes me, welcomes the One who sent me?” (Craddock) But when you’re entertaining Jesus, he is both guest and host. That is a tricky truth to navigate whether it's in your home, or in your heart.
Jesus doesn’t react to Martha’s frustration that Mary sits at his feet listening while she is up to her elbows in “all that had to be done.” Martha is so busy and distracted that Jesus says her name twice. I’ve certainly always assumed she was rushing around the kitchen trying to prepare a large meal for all the guests, put flowers on the table, find the right table cloth, count to see if they had enough plates and cups… but that’s because I’ve seen a lot of “Marthas” in my life do the very same thing. We can easily relate to Martha’s frustration because we know the guest who comes in and plops down in front of the game on TV while everyone else, preps and pours, checks and chops, assembles and stirs.
Jesus gently calls her out, “You are worried and distracted by many things. And really only one thing matters.” Then he said Mary had chosen “the better part” and it wouldn’t be taken from her.
The ink is not even dry on the Good Samaritan parable, in which the last word to the Lawyer was “Go and do…” And here we are throwing Martha under the bus for all her going and doing. I think we have to consider a couple of things that 1) both women are modeling what it looks like to be a disciple; and 2) that “one thing that matters” might be something else entirely.
Back in 2000, a book came along titled, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World (bleh!). It’s too tempting to decide that like personality types, some people are Marthas and some people are Marys; and that one is better than the other. The binary opposition between action and contemplation as seen in this Mary and Martha story lures us into thinking of them as opposites rather than complementary characteristics of true discipleship.
Welcoming and serving as well as sitting with and listening are acts of true discipleship. Both women are doing good things.
Several years ago, I was in a congregation that was having BIG conversations about their next capital spending plans. One group wanted to honor the church’s tradition of excellence in worship, especially in music and so they wanted to replace the modest pipe organ with a much finer, bigger instrument. Another group wanted to honor the church’s long-standing commitments to local ministries in the community. They wanted to enhance the facilities to accommodate a more robust presence in the community to meet more needs. This conversation led to a debate in the congregation that put music and worship in binary opposition to service in the community. Which project was the church more committed to? Which ministry program did the church value more? Were they more focused on meeting the needs of people inside the church, or those outside the church? Were they willing to commit equal amounts of monetary and human resources to both projects? It was Mary and Martha in a much broader discussion.
Where are you more likely to experience the presence of God?
In the prelude?
Praying while knitting prayer shawls
Listening to the choral anthem
In a language break-through with an ESL learner
Putting together hygiene kits
Filling bags for the backpack ministry?
In a Sunday school class?
In a sermon?
In a solo?
At the bedside of a sick neighbor?
So, if we want to get the Christian life right, where do we start? With the going and doing? Or with the staying, listening, and learning?
There is a catholic parish in Pittsburg, PA called Saint Mary & Martha Parish. They say they are a Roman Catholic parish joyfully journeying toward holiness and salvation. Inspired by Martha's heart of hospitality and service and Mary's spirit of prayer and discipleship. When this parish began, they named it for both sisters saying it would take both Marys and Marthas for the church to grow. Sometimes we slay dragons. Sometimes we start monasteries. We’re not “supposed” to be Mary or Martha, or Mary instead of Martha; we each have, and need, both of them in our hearts.
Jesus gives Martha the blessing to leave the undone and let what is done be enough, so that she can come feed her soul. While service and worship must find a balance in the Christian life, I think Jesus reminds us there is no substitute for feeding our souls with the presence of Christ.
John Claypool insisted, “Jesus was like any good physician. He didn’t prescribe the same medicine for every patient who walked through the door. He proportioned the medication to the particular sickness he detected.” Jesus, with all compassion and love for us, simply wants the best for all of us which seems to be just what we need to hear – though it might be hard to hear it. The truth. Sometimes it feels like a well-spoken benediction: “Go and do likewise.” Other times it just feels like the truth: “Martha, dear Martha… One thing is essential…”
What if that one thing Jesus mentioned wasn’t actually serving, or listening at Jesus’ feet, but the act of being together - being fully present with each other whether we are preparing a meal or reading the Bible. What if, when he said to Martha, “only one thing is needed” he was looking into her face smiling, gesturing to the space between them and saying, “this. This right here.”
Endnotes
Buechner, Frederick, Peculiar Treasures
Claypool, John, Stories Jesus Still Tells
Craddock, Fred Interpretation commentary series, Luke
Glaze and Moessner, Women in Travail & Transition: A New Pastoral Care
Salmon, Marilyn Working Preacher commentary 2010 Luke 10:38-42
Wyant, Jennifer S. Working Preaching commentary 2025 Luke 10:38-42