Adapted from Grit & Grace by Caryn Rivadeneira
Mary’s Journal Entry # 476
Dear Diary,
Ugh. My sister is driving me nuts! Again! “Pick up your sandals, Mary.” “We need more eggs, Mary.” “Sweep off the porch, Mary.” “Quit rolling your eyes Mary”. All day long, that’s all I hear. You’d think after Jesus himself told her to stop nagging me because I was doing the “better part” (by sitting still and listening to him teach) and she was doing the worse part (by bossing everyone around and serving the food) that she’d give it a rest. But does she? Um, no. Martha just keeps going. Keeps bossing. Keeps nagging. I just can’t measure up to her expectations… ever!
I swear if she doesn’t let up soon…well I don’t even know what I’ll do! I’ll…I’ll…I’ll spit! Hahaha could you imagine? I can just see her face if I just spit. She’d faint. At least then I’d get some peace and quiet. I mean all I want is a little bit of down time. Is that too much to ask? Can’t a girl take some time in the day to read? Or write? Or find a few answers to the questions I’ve got swirling around in my head?
Life is so much better when I can just lie out in the sun and read or sit and listen to Jesus…speaking of which. He’s coming today! It’s always so exciting when he stops by our place. The debates and conversations are amazing and he never tells me to leave. I think he likes that I want to learn.
And the food…oi the food is so good! And it just appears out of nowhere! Must be magic or something. (Martha calls for Mary off stage) Uh oh… I can hear Martha calling for me. I better go look busy or she’ll have a fit.
Martha’s Day Calendar Entry #37.6
Today’s To Do List:
- Wash chamber pots
- Sweep kitchen
- Sweep loft
- Make up spare beds
- Start soup stock
- Bake bread
- Mend rug
- Pay taxes
Check Check aaaand Check. Sure feels good to get all of that done! Now I can finally stop for breakfast but before I do, I need to get a few things off my chest. Well, one thing really…Mary. She got up this morning, did the bare minimum of chores, that I had to ask her multiple times to do, and then as soon as my back’s turned? You got it…she’s sprawled out on the sofa reading one of father’s old scrolls. She’s lucky he’s not alive to see her.
He used to get so mad at her when she’d sneak into his classroom and listen as he taught his students. And then the questions she’d ask at dinner! There’s literally never an end to her questions. He would always answer the same way: “Mary, go help your mother and sister in the kitchen.” And then he’d reference that old prayer where he thanked God for not making him a woman.
He’d laugh, but Mary never would. She didn’t think it was funny at all. Now that I think about it…I guess it wasn’t really. But that’s not what I’m frustrated about today. Today I just need more help. Jesus is on his way and you know that man never travels alone! He sends word that he’s stopping by and next thing I know my house is filled to the rafters with people…hungry people.
There’s so much to do and I really need her help. I can’t do all of this on my own…but who am I kidding? It doesn’t matter how many times I holler for her she just hides her nose in a book. Ugh, I guess I’ll just have to skip breakfast and get to work…Jesus will be here by noon and if there’s not enough to feed everyone… well, I don’t even want to think about it!
Mary’s Journal Entry #477
Dear Diary,
You won’t believe this but this day got even worse! Here I am trying to get my questions for Jesus all written down before he gets here, and Martha loses her mind. Not only is she freaking out that our house isn’t “company ready” but she’s obsessed with making sure we have fresh bread and dried fish and jugs of water and fiascoes of wine all prepared and ready to go. It’s insane.
We get word that Jesus is coming and next thing she’s running around like a chicken with its head cut off…a very bossy headless chicken. It is possible that Jesus will show up alone. I mean…it’s never happened before…he usually shows up with dozens of people…but it could be that this time he’s alone and then allllllll this running crazy would be a supreme waste of my time. That being said…when I got up this morning there were already a few people camped out in the yard…I guess they heard that Jesus was on his way.
So, it’s probably not a bad idea for me to pick my clothes up and tidy the yard a bit… And I’ll admit: I am pretty proud when I hear people talking around Bethany and our home and how Jesus likes to stay with us. They say how Martha is always ready to offer a meal to those who need one. You can’t imagine how many people show up here looking worn and skinny at all hours. And Martha welcomes every one of them with a smile. She never turns anyone away. She’s quick to find them a spot at our table and to whip up food that brings the color back to their cheeks and the life back to their eyes.
But still…maybe this time will be different…maybe it’ll just be Jesus and she’ll see that I did choose the better part by chillaxing a bit. (Martha calls for Mary) Oh, gotta go…Martha’s on the prowl.
Martha’s Day Calendar Entry #37.7
To do:
- Finish shopping list
- go to the market
- bake more bread
- Start the stew for tomorrow
- milk the goat
I’m just jotting down a couple things so I don’t forget…I thought I’d have the afternoon to catch up on everything but another big group has arrived! It’s been go go go since the moment I got up. At least the meal is ready…not to brag but it smells delicious, and I think there will be enough for everyone…no thanks to my sister…of course.
I swear, that girl will never learn. She looks so annoyed and hurt when I nag at her…but how many times do I have to ask her to pick up her sandals or stir the soup? Like do it when I ask you to do it and we’ll be fine. She just never learns!
Well, I guess that’s not entirely accurate. She may not have learned how to bake bread, but Mary does keep trying to learn other things. Hiding in the synagogue to hear the Rabbi’s, sneaking off with father’s scrolls. She can easily spend hours reciting Scripture, perfecting her memory work, whatever she can. I’ve seen her hiding in the corner of the kitchen writing down the questions she has for Jesus. They’re always really good questions too. She’s always had this intense desire to study as a way of becoming a better person and growing closer to God. But when she met Jesus…. well, she just leaned into it even more.
I suppose it paid off. After all, Jesus did tell Mary she was choosing the better part. Better than what I was choosing, is what I assumed he meant. I’m not going to lie-it stung when he said that. In front of everyone. I was half-tempted to run back into the kitchen and cry, maybe “accidentally” drop a dish or two, or sneeze into the soup.
Well, no point belly aching…I have work to do.
Mary Journal Entry #478
Ok…sooo…I guess I was wrong. Jesus got here today and he did NOT come alone. In fact, I think there were more people here than I’ve ever seen before! It was so amazing. Jesus is gaining so much traction…his teachings about caring for each other, and learning about God’s love, and how there’s a place for all of us, and we need to take care of each other no matter where we come from. I’ve never heard anything like it!
I sat right at his feet and listened for HOURS…you should have seen Martha’s face…haha if looks could kill…but what was I supposed to do? Leave Jesus so I could help her with the dishes? Forget it!
Jesus was telling us this story about a man who fell into the hands of robbers. And how all these people who should have helped him didn’t because they had more important things to do. And then finally one person stopped and he put aside his own plans and helped the hurt man. Took really good care of him, fed him, got him to a safe place…oh…oh dear…now that I think about it what Jesus was saying is really, ugh, I can’t believe I’m about to admit this! But I think Jesus’ teachings are really a lot like what Martha is doing all the time. Shoot!
Like the way Jesus has fed thousands of people who are all struggling to make ends meet. How the SAMARITAIN of all people helped someone in need. The way he invites in literally anyone to eat with him when I bet he’d rather have some alone time to read, or think, or pray. He’s always caring for people’s physical needs… just like my sister does.
Jesus did say that listening to him was better than cleaning. But now that I think about it maybe that’s not really what he meant. And even though she’s been busy Martha has obviously been listening to Jesus too… not only that but she’s been living like him…all that food I love… it’s not made by magic…it’s made by her…
Martha’s Day Calendar Entry #37.8
To Do:
—
Well. would you look at that…my to do list is empty. That’s a rare thing. I’ll admit I’ve been thinking a lot about what Jesus said…about Mary choosing the better part…truth is he didn’t say that what I was choosing was wrong. When I passed by Mary sitting at his feet this afternoon I caught his eye to see if he’d say it again…he just smiled at me and I realized something. Jesus wasn’t telling me that what I did was wrong or bad or less than what Mary was doing.
Goodness. No one looks forward to one of my meals more than Jesus does. No one is more grateful or appreciative of the warm loaves and grilled fish after a long day than him. And the look he gives me when I care for his friends, or he sees me looking after a sick stranger. I know he’s pleased with me when I do them. I love doing these things and I know he appreciates me.
Everyone does. Everyone says how hard working I am, how generous and thoughtful. I get plenty of praise. But not many people appreciate Mary. I mean she is a terrible cook, and even worse housekeeper. She couldn’t mend a torn robe to save her life. Mary never knows where we keep the extra loaves when hungry people come looking, my goodness she can’t even stir the soup when I ask.
But Mary is a really good listener. She has the sharpest mind I’ve ever seen. She wouldn’t hesitate to sit and read the Torah or listen to Jesus— pondering, analyzing, questioning. But she also loves to sit with our visitors. She asks them questions about the world. She listens so intently to them. She gives them space and keeps them company, she makes them happy and she loves doing it. That’s her great gift. And when Jesus told her it was the better part…I think he meant that it was better that she use her gift than help me use mine.
Maybe that’s why she used her precious oil on Jesus’ feet…it drove me to utter distraction when she did that…oi what a mess. But you know, no one had ever paid Mary much attention and yet there’s Jesus never once turning her, or her questions, away. I’ve certainly never heard him make fun of her for them.
I think I understand now, Mary wanted to honour Jesus as he has honoured her. Jesus makes her feel special, he makes all of us feel special, just as we are.
Mary Journal Entry #479
I know I felt so smug when Jesus said I was choosing the better part…as if Martha was choosing the worse part… but maybe choosing the better part isn’t about choosing between action and contemplation.
Martha’s Day Calendar Entry #37.9
Maybe choosing the better part isn’t about working or sitting at Jesus’ feet. Maybe it’s about using our gifts to the best of our ability and not judging others for using their gifts in their way. Maybe the better part is celebrating that both are needed, that both bring glory to God. Faith and works.
Mary
Faith and works…maybe to be a follower of Jesus really means a combination of the two.
Martha
Maybe it’s a combination of the two.
Together
I have to go find my sister!
