Martha and Mary

John 12:1-11

1. Christological Images- Jesus is at the heart of the event. He is the Guest. We were told here that a generous hospitality has to be achieved by Mary and Martha. It is very normal that the guest who arrives at home had to be made comfortable. There are images we can draw from the event. Luke 10:38-42 will be read with John 12:1-11.

a) Lord of Creation- in the Book of Genesis, we were told that God created the world in “six days” and on the seventh day He rested. For “six days” God prepared creation to worship Him on the “seventh day.” John 12:1, we were told that “six days” before the Passover, Jesus and his disciples went to Bethany, in the house of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Jesus illustrates the ministry of preparation. Our work is to prepare people well for the feast and to prepare the people for Jesus.

b) Guest- a guest is one who comes and goes; he visits. We were told that Jesus came to Bethany (Jn 12:1), to the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus as a guest. So, Mary had to entertain Jesus and Martha had to prepare for the dinner. In the Gospel of Luke 24:50-51, we were told that Jesus departed from his disciples in Bethany. It was where he ascended into heaven. Jesus is indeed the “guest” who comes and goes. A priest or missionary comes and goes. He stays in a place to exercise his ministry but he also goes because he does not own his ministry. His ministry is patterned to Jesus’ mission.

c) The Resurrection and the Life- John emphasized Jesus as the one entering Bethany and came to the house of Lazarus whom he “raised from the dead.” This is a great prophetic foreshadowing of his identity. Pope Francis said: For “here we discover a profound law of reality: that life is attained and matures in the measure that it is offered up in order to give life to others” (EG 10). Mission is all about giving life. It is all about being with people. It is missio ad gentes, missio inter gentes, and missio cum gentes. It is giving life and joy to the people. Pope Francis added: “This is certainly what mission means.” Consequently, an evangelizer must never look like someone who has just come back from a funeral! (EG 10)

d) The Passover- A dinner was prepared in thanksgiving for Jesus raised Lazarus from death. There is a connection between the supper and the resurrection. Jesus is the Passover as depicted in the work of the Martha, Mary and Lazarus who prepared the Supper for Jesus to honor him. In John 12:2, we were told that “Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.” As missionaries, as God’s anointed ones, and as God’s chosen ones, we are all called to gather, prepare, and serve the Lord in the Holy Eucharist. As priests, we have to serve the Lord in good times and in bad. Benedict XVI said: “Let us thank God for all those priests who have suffered even to the sacrifice of their lives in order to serve Christ.” (Sacramentum Caritatis 26)

e) Servant-King- When Mary takes the expensive oil to anoint Jesus, this was a revelation of Jesus’ identity as the King and Servant. Kings were anointed in the Old Testament. Saul was first anointed by Samuel (1 Samuel 10:1) and later made king by the people who sacrificed peace offerings and rejoiced (1 Samuel 11:15). David was anointed king by Samuel (1 Samuel 16:12-13). The act of anointing of Jesus’ feet as Servant-King will be demonstrated by Jesus at the Last Supper when Jesus will be washing the feet of his disciples. In Luke 10:42, Jesus told Martha that Mary has chosen the better part. Jesus clarifies a little in John 12:8 “You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” We see the primacy of Christ in our missions and apostolate. Benedict XVI commented those who have exercised their charisms: “Though they provide many services in the area of human formation and care for the poor, education and health care, consecrated men and women know that the principal purpose of their lives is “the contemplation of things divine and constant union with God in prayer.” (Sacramentum Caritatis 81)

f) Head of the Church- Jesus is the Head of the Church. The fragrance of the oil filled the whole house is symbolic of Jesus whose identity and authority filled the house. Benedict XVI commented: The “house,” that is, the entire Church, “was filled with the “fragrance” of his love (cf. Jn 12,3). As priests and servants of the Lord, we are called always to ensure active participation of the faithful in worshipping and praising God (actuosa participatio). As ministers who act in the person of Christ (in persona Christi capitis) we celebrate the sacraments and “fill” the house or the Church with the grace of God. We perform the sacraments well. Benedict XVI continued to say: “The primary way to foster the participation of the People of God in the sacred rite is the proper celebration of the rite itself. The ars celebrandi is the best way to ensure their actuosa participatio.” (Sacramentum Caritatis 38).

g) Prophet- The story of Jesus visiting the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus is prophetic in nature. We were told: “Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair” (John 12:3). There are three prophetic images here: 1) there is a relationship between anointing and the poor. Jesus is indeed the fulfillment of the Prophet Isaiah’s prophecy: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor…” (Is 61:1) Judas did not see it but saw it as a waste. Judas commented: “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” (Jn 12:5) 2) truth will triumph over deception. Mary’s anointing of Jesus’ feet was done in all sincerity and truth. She got the most expensive oil with perfume for Christ (cf Jn 12:3). She got the best she had for Christ because this will be last chance to worship Jesus. She was already looking forward to his impending sacrificial death. Judas represented the task of the serpent of the Book of Genesis 3:1-4. Jesus showed His power by saying: Leave her alone… (Jn 12:7) Jesus defended Mary for her benevolent action. 3) Celebration of thanksgiving has its relationship with the Cross of Christ. Mary thanked the Lord for raising Lazarus to life. Lazarus meant so much for their future. Women during the time of Jesus were secondary citizens. There is no mention here of the parents of the three still around. Jesus had to visit them to show that dependence of Christ would mean a lot. Mary anointed Jesus in advance before his death. This is the reason why Mary would not be at the physical burial of Christ because she made it already six days before the Crucifixion.

Luke 10:38-42

The Hosts- In the story of Martha and Mary, we see two main protagonists: Mary who sat at the feet of Jesus; and Martha who was so much concerned about the details of the kitchen. By the kind of dispositions they had, we find clear indications that Martha is the older sister because of the household works she is focused on. Mary would be the younger one since she is the one who entertained Jesus at the living room. Lazarus was absent when Jesus came. This indicated that the male brother, according to culture and custom, has to find and earn food for the family. In this event, there will be two concepts of space to help us reflect the grace behind Jesus’ mission of visiting the house of Martha and Mary.

The association of space with gender was very much important aspect for consideration in the event of Jesus’ visit to Martha and Mary. In patriarchal societies, gender stratification creates theories and ways of understanding backgrounds of texts. Gendered spaces in homes during the time of Jesus can be a consideration for our reflection.

a) Male Space- the male space is important to understand the absence of Lazarus in Lk 10:38-42. Lazarus had to work for the two sisters he had. It was the male’s work to entertain the guests at the living room. Since Lazarus was out, it was Mary who did the role of Lazarus to entertain and welcome Jesus. While in John 12:2 we find Lazarus among “those” who reclined at table with Jesus.

b) Women Space- Martha was faithful to her space. It was the work of women to be in the kitchen to prepare the details of hospitality like food and the cleanliness of the house. Mary was supposed to be with Martha to prepare all the food for the “Guest;” but because in Luke 10:38-42, Lazarus was not around, Mary crossed over to the space of the male to entertain and listen to Jesus speak. This prompted Martha to complain and told him to tell her sister to help her down the kitchen.

In this reflection we may draw, three points: first, Jesus came to meet all spaces. He became the convergent point between male and female spaces. He reconciles gendered spaces to make room for freedom and love. Second, Jesus brings acknowledges the fidelity of Martha to culture and the newness of perspective in Mary. Listening to the Words of Jesus is greater than culture. This is the reason why Jesus said to Martha: “Mary has chosen the better part, and it will never be taken away from her” (Lk 10:42). One may take away one’s culture or cultural worldview but you can never take away God’s Word.