10/29/2020
So maybe theology on Thursdays? How can I know that Christ cares? In reading the story of Mary and Martha, I think it’s used in almost all women’s bible studies as a depiction of who not to be like. For one, I think that’s a possible way of reading this story, however, I’ve always felt bad for Martha because she wasn’t doing anything that we would call sinful. We are called to be servants to our neighbors, she was taking care of her household and many guests, so I can’t blame her for seeing her only other helper Mary acting as a guest and not a fellow worker. Interestingly, she doesn’t go directly to Mary with her issues she actually accuses the Lord in saying,”Lord, do you not care?” And calls for him to rebuke Mary. So her trouble I believe isn’t the actual work she was doing but in her confrontation with Christ.
Looking back on this passage, I realized something, how often I accuse the Lord of being absent in the midst of a chaotic day, or when I feel like I bear the brunt of things, or when it feels as if no one will help me, (it goes on.) With this in mind, I can understand why Jesus rebukes her and not Mary. In Martha’s anxiety, she questions whether God Incarnate cares. The irony continues, does the God who left His throne on high care for me? Does the Christ who will die my death for me, who knew before the foundation of the earth, care for me?
The disciples asked the same question on the stormy seas, “Lord do you not care?” So it makes it even more amazing that Peter pens these words for us affirming Christ’s care for us. Keep your eyes on Jesus I believe is the gist I get here. While it’s a cliche phrase, who else can we look upon with hope and full confidence that he does indeed care for our every need and struggle in this life. So in your mundane life activities today, I hope you’ll remember that in your moments of weakness, you can emphatically know that he does care 💛
