Luke 10:38-42
We’ve been focusing for most of the summer on The Gospel of Mary and its teachings, some of which include a vision seen by Mary Magdalene. We could summarize that vision by saying Jesus teaches us how to know the Child of True Humanity – our spiritual nature – and to live by the values of Spirit. Jesus as teacher who helps us find God within ourselves is a different focus that Jesus as Savior who takes away our sinful nature. It reminds us that within the early church there were a number of ways to understand who Jesus was and what he taught, and we don’t have to choose one way over the other. We can consider all of the teachings to find what speaks to us.
We’re also spending a few weeks reading about Mary Magdalene in the traditional scriptures to remember more of her story. There are relatively few stories featuring women in scripture, but several of those involve women named Mary. It’s quite possible that there were many Marys among Jesus followers, because it was a common name. We’re going to read stories that name Mary Magdalene specifically, and also stories of Mary of Bethany (and her sister Martha) because scholars are currently researching whether these might be the same person. Whatever they discover, the stories are helpful to us.
We have probably heard today’s story many times. Over the years many women’s groups have been named “Mary and Martha” circles, to emphasize that women’s roles include both study and service. I want us to hit “pause” as we begin thinking about it to note how amazing it is that this story exists. It’s a story which encourages women to sit with men in study. That would have broken two significant taboos in the first century – women and men together in groups that weren’t just family and women studying scripture. When the gospels were written, their purpose was to attract people to Jesus. How amazing that a story which shows Jesus breaking social norms was included and remained.
We have hints in scripture that women were an important part of Jesus’ ministry. That they traveled with the group. Some wealthy women paid the bills. Although only 12 men are named as disciples, scripture refers to seventy people being sent out in pairs to expand the teaching ministry. Surely some of them were women. Jesus included women and men together as leaders in his movement. The early church named both men and women as leaders of house churches. By the time Christianity became official 300 years later, it was customary to exclude the women, just as culture at the time gave a very limited role to women. It wasn’t until our lifetime that women’s role has been expanded again. The fact that men who were excluding women from leadership let this story remain in scripture is rather miraculous!
When we study this scripture, we see the contrast between Martha who served food to the crowd and Mary who sat and listened. Mary was the spiritual one and has been over the years seen as more important. Although that was perhaps to give weight to the spiritual work that men were allowed to do over the behind-the-scenes cooking relegated to women. How lucky we are to live in a time when the spiritual role women can play has been recognized again. And even more lucky to be able to say with confidence that both learning and serving matter.
If we read this story with 21st century eyes, we might realize that it’s not just about which roles are most important, but about how everyone has a role to play – or even many roles over time – and we can value each one. Paul wrote to the early church about people taking various roles in their gatherings and in community life. Each person should act according to the gifts they’ve been given, because all gifts build up the whole. Paul was less enlightened about gender roles, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be.
In fact, reading this story at the beginning of Grand Forks PRIDE month, I wonder what it teaches us about gender roles. Martha cooked and served, as women were expected to do. That’s not a less important role because women did that work. Community building starts with refreshments, and none of us wants to do without that part. Mary listened to Jesus teaching. In fact, we’ve come to recognize that women could be important to understanding what Jesus meant as he taught. That’s important work, too. We’re part of a time when not only women are recognized as playing a wider role in the world, but LGBTQIA+ folk can now be out and public about who they are and the essential roles they play in our community.
If I were to take this story to the next level, I’d like it to help us give up gender roles altogether. Male/female/nonbinary/transgender – lesbian/gay/straight/two spirit – there are so many possibilities. Each can be helpful to an individual in understanding themselves, but none of them is essential to naming what people can do, how they can serve the community, or how they should be valued. Maybe we’re on the way to celebrating people as human beings without needing labels. Maybe we can leave labels behind and appreciate individuals for what they add to the whole. We’re not there yet, but each time we ignore stereotypes and honor people’s personalities and abilities, we make progress. Someday we’ll learn that labels don’t matter, but people do.