오늘은 이번 주일 설교를 영문으로 올려 봅니다.
The Bible primarily chronicles the public life of Jesus, thus personal relationships and stories are scarce. Among the few personal stories, the relationship between the sisters Mary and Martha frequently appears. They are sisters, and they have a brother named Lazarus. The stories of Lazarus dying and being raised from the dead, the woman who anointed Jesus' feet with perfume, and the story of the first witnesses to Jesus' resurrection after visiting his tomb are unusually common personal relationships stories in the Bible.
Today's story is about Jesus visited the home of these special sisters.
While Martha was busy preparing to serve Jesus, Mary sat at Jesus' feet, engaging in conversation. Martha, displeased that Mary was not helping, asked Jesus to tell her sister to assist her. but, Instead, Jesus spoke in defense of Mary.
The intriguing part of this story is why Martha didn't directly ask Mary for help but instead appealed to Jesus. It would have been much easier to speak directly to her sister than to a guest like Jesus.
Positively, it could be seen as an attempt to save face for Jesus. If she had abruptly called her sister away from a guest to work, it might have offended the guest.
However, Martha's words to Jesus reveal that she wasn't trying to save face for him. Her complaint to Jesus (Luke 10:40, NIV) But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" was more of a rebuke to Jesus than to her sister. Clearly, her appeal to Jesus was not out of propriety.
Martha's seemingly reproachful words to Jesus indicate a sense of disappointment with him. She likely wished to converse with Jesus as Mary did, expecting Jesus to praise her efforts and reprimand Mary for not helping.
However, Jesus' response was not what she expected. He described Martha as worried and upset about many things, while Mary had chosen what was better. Whether Martha agreed with this assessment is unknown. Notably, while Mary is mentioned during Jesus' crucifixion and burial, Martha's absence suggests she may have distanced herself from Jesus.
Why then did Jesus seem so harsh with Martha?
Could he not have gently praised Martha and also commended Mary? Or suggested that Mary help Martha before continuing their conversation?
The answer lies in Jesus' response.
(Luke 10:41-42, NIV)
[41] "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, [42] but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Every action has a reason.
If we interpret the text focusing on actions, serving guests becomes negative, and listening to the word becomes positive. Extending this logic implies that religious life is more important than secular life. Is it right to abandon family and career for religious devotion? This logic is often found in what are commonly called 'cults.' Faith should be realized through real-life, not disconnected from it or used as a means of escape. Even if we don't take it to such extremes, at the very least, faith should not neglect real-life responsibilities.
Pay Attention to the Motive Behind Actions
What we should pay attention to in this passage is that Jesus is not evaluating their actions per se, but rather focusing on the inner motives behind their actions. (Unfortunately, despite the clarity of the text, many sermons tend to interpret it as emphasizing the value of listening to Jesus’ words over mere actions.)
Jesus was more interested in the underlying reasons for their behavior. As a result, He arrived at completely different assessments of the two women. According to Jesus, Martha’s actions stemmed from worry and anxiety, while Mary’s actions were born out of joy.
There is a clear distinction between actions based on worry and anxiety and those based on joy. Actions rooted in worry and anxiety aim not at “saving” but merely at “not perishing.” The Jewish law exemplifies this mindset. All laws are designed for punishment, and compliance with the law demands only minimal morality, which cannot truly inspire virtuous behavior.
Let’s consider Jesus’ discussion with the legal expert about eternal life and loving one’s neighbor.(Luke 10:25-37) According to the Jewish law, to attain eternal life, one must love God and their neighbor as themselves. But who is the neighbor? Legally, it refers to an “Israelite who follows the law.” However, in Jesus’ parable, the true neighbor of the man who encountered robbers was the Samaritan who selflessly cared for him. From a legal perspective, the Samaritan couldn’t be considered a neighbor. Meanwhile, the actions of the priest and the Levite were legally unproblematic. Caught between reality and the law, the legal expert was left pondering.
The story of Martha and Mary symbolically reveals the essence of legalism versus the gospel. Martha adhered to everyday actions dictated by law and tradition when guests arrived, while Mary did not. Sitting at the feet of a guest, especially a male guest, and engaging in conversation was an unusual behavior for a woman, contrary to societal norms. Mary’s actions were generally subject to criticism from a conventional standpoint.
However, if her act of preparing a heartfelt feast for the guest stemmed from worry and anxiety, it wouldn’t truly restore their relationship. Conversely, even if the guest didn’t receive a lavish meal according to conventional standards, if there was joy between them, that action would indeed restore their relationship. Jesus’ visit to Martha and Mary’s home wasn’t about receiving hospitality; it was about nurturing and restoring their relationship.
Whatever we do, it must be grounded in joy.
That’s what the gospel is all about.
Spiritual life should be predicated on joy. Of course, this doesn’t mean pursuing hedonistic pleasures of the flesh. It refers to the joy of seeking truth, willingly abstaining from other things for the sake of something more meaningful and valuable.
Is this principle applicable only to spiritual life? Not at all.
“A lazy person cannot defeat a diligent person, a diligent person cannot defeat a talented person, and a talented person cannot defeat someone who truly joy.”
The term “enjoy” here is akin to “being filled with divine inspiration.” Thus, being in a state of “complete enjoyment” resembles being in an ecstatic state—so immersed in joy that it appears almost crazy to onlookers. It transcends societal norms and gazes.
Mary was filled with divine joy upon hearing the words of Jesus: (Luke 10:42, NIV) "but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
What fills us with divine joy and defines us? That is exactly what we become.
"Let us be individuals brimming with divine joy for the purpose of saving lives." This is the crux of the gospel. Jesus Himself was so imbued with divine joy that He sacrificed His own life.
Whether through our deeds or relationships, the essential attitude of being "filled with divine joy for the purpose of saving lives" is at the heart of Christian faith.
Churches that lose sight of this become mere religious institutions.
The priests, Levites, and Martha all fulfilled their roles, but they did not engage in the work of saving lives. Acknowledging this distinction is vital. When the legal expert sought eternal life and Martha was preoccupied with meal preparations, Jesus sought to enlighten them to this reality. This lesson is also applicable to us as we reflect on this scripture.
Do you understand the difference between duty-bound actions and actions filled with joy?
Do you know the joy of engaging in saving life work?
Is your faith filled with divine joy for the purpose of saving lives?