Thursday, December 4, 2025

 

Nativity with Shepherds   David Jones, 1981

 

Is 26:1-6 Ps 118:19-24 Mt 7:21-27 orJob 1:1-5 Ps 119:161-168 Lk 10:38-41

 

Reversals 
from Latin re-'back' + vertere 'to turn'

Luke Chapter 10 is startling in its richness — moving though the commissioning of the 70 missionaries, the chastening of the unrepentant cities, Jesus' rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit, the teaching of the Golden Law in the parable of the Good Samaritan and concluding with Jesus instructing Mary and Martha.

 

Today's passage of Luke zeroes in on the end of Luke 10: Jesus' time with the two sisters. This is a particularly relatable parable — who has not, at times, felt privileged to be Mary, luxuriating in conversation. Who has not felt like Martha, working away accommodating others: Dinner isn't going to make itself . . . mutter mutter. 

 

Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.

 

Often portrayed as a rebuke of Martha by Jesus — can this passage also be seen as an invitation? 

 

The Daily Lectionary, in an official form, has been a work in progress for nearly 500 years. It is striking how it embodies a spirit that continues to transcend social context. The Mary and Martha passage is an example of this and another variation on the theme of reversals.

 

The passage preceding this in Luke is the Parable of the Good Samaritan — a call not just to acknowledge but to literally serve those who are literally downtrodden.

 

The words of Isaiah 26:1-6 set the tone for the day's readings, comparing God's kingdom to a well fortified city. Open the gates, has a different flavour than it would written in a passive version, which could read, let the gates be opened . . . The way it is written makes us, we the people, the actors: it is on us to ask for entry — the impulse has to come from within. Verse 4 is perhaps the heart of this passage: Trust in the Lord for ever, / for in the Lord God / you have an everlasting rock. Here the rock becomes the cornerstone of today's readings.

 

In Psalm 118:19 we have, again, the call: Open to me the gates of righteousness / that I may enter through them / and give thanks to the Lord. Then this, slight shift in the actions: thank first then the request is fulfilled: I thank you and you have answered me and have become my salvation. Again the use of the active versus passive voice: it does not say, and you have saved me, but you have become my salvation. It seems to matter that the active voice is saved for the one requiring salvation. 

 

This is followed by another important reference to the stone — another reversal: this object that was deemed unfit, becomes not just usable, but key! This discarded rock is reclaimed and made essential to the project. 

 

And as we enter this new kingdom, observe our Lord and Master — his actions, again, are written in the (unkingly) passive voice: This is the Lord's doing . . .  The is the day the Lord has made. Imagine that — an imperial force that submits to its subjects. This becomes particularly meaningful when echoed in the Christmas story, as our new Lord reveals Himself in the most humble of situations –  the monarch born subject to the kindness of others.

 

–

 

I'm sure many of us know the familiar flavour of "busy work," when we're fussing, overly, over a baby, for example, or a garden bed, or an email, or text, or any instance that we find ourselves giving, perhaps, undo attention to dotting the "i"s and crossing the "t"s. Perhaps we've decided it is time to really clean the grout or gut the garage, maybe because it's easier than tackling what really needs our attention. We procrastibake, or tidy our desk for the umpteenth time, or just close the book on productivity and lose ourselves in something else, that we, by our choosing to focus on it, elevate disproportionately. Where our minds are is where our energy is and before long we can find ourselves building sand castles – fun in their way, not necessarily the most stable of structures or activities on which to base a life. 

 

And here we return to Mary and Martha – another incredible reversal. By sitting and listening to Jesus, Martha has stepped out of the kitchen, and into learning – a sphere, in that time and place, traditionally reserved for men. Can we see how Martha, helpfully making preparations, attempting to accommodate an honoured guest, might feel left out? Dinner isn't going to make itself. What could be an inner hurt appears in a seemingly bitter expression when she says, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?

 

Could it be her inflection that brings on Jesus' sterner tone? If Jesus’ tone is stern – is there not warmth in Jesus repeating Martha’s name? Jesus could have simply ignored Martha, and Luke could have chosen to leave this conversation out entirely. By including the exchange – by having chapter 10 land on it! – Luke invites women into this important passage, and by responding to Martha, Jesus invites her into conversation. There is an opportunity as Jesus opens the gates to Martha – an urging for us all to let go of the portion of our work that is distraction, to join Mary at Jesus’ feet. This is the best part.

 

Alison Goodwin 

 

 

Bach's Goldberg Variations  Glenn Gould, 1981