tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post5988143429904654789..comments2024-03-28T02:24:59.003-07:00Comments on Left Behind and Loving It: Martha's Anxiety: Struggling alone against many thingsD. Mark Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12016377712982292924noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-89651999130346273512022-08-03T15:23:54.188-07:002022-08-03T15:23:54.188-07:00if unfamiliar with song referenced: https://www.yo...if unfamiliar with song referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH2c7RJimSAKen Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15677335230634184445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-50107296577398460032022-07-17T03:48:56.626-07:002022-07-17T03:48:56.626-07:00Translators add "things" all too often i...Translators add "things" all too often in an attempt to complete the sense of verse. An American Indian sage often says that "thing" lacks an equivalent word in indigenous language because it involves an objectification and thus distancing relationship.<br /><br />What if the text reads that Martha was concerned about many (people) while Mary was concerned about one (person).<br /><br />In the larger narrative this concern about the one who is necessary leads to cross and resurrection and ascension. The Lukan is never without the overall story. Or so it seems to me.Pr. Russell Meyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02031730484296901616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-67835972653888497962022-07-11T17:06:04.072-07:002022-07-11T17:06:04.072-07:00A few comments and throw-it-out-there thoughts: Th...A few comments and throw-it-out-there thoughts: The word 'house' is not used here. Does Martha welcome Jesus (and not the disciples?) into her village, rather than into her house? Is she the local mayor providing a reception for the visitor?<br /><br />The word 'Lord' is used three times in a few verses. Why not 'Jesus'? In addition, is Mar-tha an abbreviation of 'maranatha', the eucharistic prayer referred to in 1 Cor 18? And does Mari-am mean 'My lord is Yah' or 'the Lord is Yah'? So, is this all an issue between kyria (ch 2 John 1) in the community?<br /><br />Martha is involved in diakonia which has to be more than making cups of tea for the men. The same word used of Jesus who came 'to serve'. Is Acts 6 a parallel issue to here? There's a division made between those who were devoted to preaching the word and those devoted to serving at tables. It's not either .. or there, nor is it here.<br /><br />I'm not sure Mariam is a learner. She 'heard the word of the Lord' much like Samuel, Isaiah, Amos and many of the prophets did. It's the logos she was hearing (continuous) - that creative, performative, life-changing word that another Mary heard telling her that she would become pregnant. Mariam is an authorised hearer of the word (and so, like a prophet, also a proclaimer of it?). <br /><br />Jesus doesn't invite Martha to abandon her diakonia and to join Mariam her 'sister' (not meant biologically). Martha thinks Mariam should abandon her hearing role and become a deacon. Jesus says no. Both sisters named Mar* have a 'portion' from the Lord and one is not better than the other. The dominant/domina Marthas in a community need to learn that.<br /><br />This is, then, not a domestic issue but an ecclesial one.<br />Rick Strelanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09748454442741602352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-40836213222084419102020-04-19T08:30:26.339-07:002020-04-19T08:30:26.339-07:00Thanks for sharing such beautiful information with...Thanks for sharing such beautiful information with us. I hope you will share some more information about anxiety. Please keep sharing. <br /><b><a href="http://healthisalife.com/" title="Health Is A Life" rel="nofollow">Health Is A Life </a></b><br />Healthytipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783165585939831319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-61805682693174675412020-01-21T00:30:42.073-08:002020-01-21T00:30:42.073-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Emily Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16024641621338141184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-13514876476661896872019-07-21T07:10:30.305-07:002019-07-21T07:10:30.305-07:00Just a brief comment on your opening - you'll ...Just a brief comment on your opening - you'll remember that "the hysterical woman" has Greek roots and hysteria was treated as a female disease - if the movie Hysteria is to be believed, by forced hysterectomy. <br />Bill Schlesingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14304598437917344802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-42849863473356220782019-07-21T05:38:01.625-07:002019-07-21T05:38:01.625-07:00That is an intriguing comment, Ken. I have often f...That is an intriguing comment, Ken. I have often found Jeremy Begbie's suggestion that we should think musically rather than visually to understand many biblical possibilities. This is a great expression of Begbie's suggestion.D. Mark Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12016377712982292924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-4532832841584641572019-07-17T09:06:53.404-07:002019-07-17T09:06:53.404-07:00It occurs to me that a great illustration is the s...It occurs to me that a great illustration is the song Seek Ye First with Descant contrasting Martha with lyric and Mary with descantKen Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15677335230634184445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-67512188655055885532016-07-16T05:23:22.757-07:002016-07-16T05:23:22.757-07:00These comments comprise the best discussion of a t...These comments comprise the best discussion of a text I've seen yet on my blog. Thank you all for your serious and helpful insights. D. Mark Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12016377712982292924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-87548202695528220572016-07-16T01:40:56.150-07:002016-07-16T01:40:56.150-07:00To piggy back on Tobi's comments. the long sec...To piggy back on Tobi's comments. the long section this belongs (starting with the sending of the 70?) is also about being present. Don't worry about what to take, what to eat, etc. Behere, now. That is echoed in the good samaritan. Those whose focus is ahead of themselves (going to Jerusalem to do my thing) miss those in need. Their head is in the future. And Tobi pulls it together with the clarification of activity needed to be mindful. Thanks!scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09866325571917056232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-59786585414168980142016-07-16T01:17:43.117-07:002016-07-16T01:17:43.117-07:00As always, a very valuable commentary. And good co...As always, a very valuable commentary. And good comments below the line. But your ‘narrative leap’ between verses 38 and 39 is only a leap if we allow verse 38 to set this story *in Martha’s house* (which, as you recognise, is not supported by the Greek text but comes from its translators). A domestic setting, overstretched by a large visiting party, plays all too easily into the traditional dichotomy between the practical Martha slaving away in the kitchen and the contemplative Mary lounging on the drawing room carpet: thus we oblige Christians – especially Christian women – to choose their preferred role-model and the guilt that goes with it.<br /><br />What if we strip away the translators’ gloss and (1) take out ‘into the house’ in 38, (2) put back the ‘also’ in 39 and (3) accept – as the text suggests – that Jesus just went in to see his friends alone, without the ‘entourage’ that the traditional reading asks us to imagine? If so, we restore a measure of equality between Martha and Mary as genuine disciples who were both, figuratively, at Jesus’ feet. There is an issue between them but it is not about catering. <br /><br />I agree with Dwight that we do ourselves a disservice by slicing up the Gospel into weekly segments: if we are conflicted about the way in which head, heart and hand play their part in responding to Jesus – and this is essentially the conflict that Martha expresses – we need to look back at the Good Samaritan (10:25-37) and ahead to the instruction about how to pray (11:1-4) for the fuller story.<br />Paul Becknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-71542682980603780702016-07-13T08:58:33.727-07:002016-07-13T08:58:33.727-07:00Interesting indeed. Who better to show rivalry tha...Interesting indeed. Who better to show rivalry than sibling, eh? Thanks for the comment. D. Mark Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12016377712982292924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-59624850884354715712016-07-13T08:57:40.423-07:002016-07-13T08:57:40.423-07:00What a beautiful reflection on both this text and ...What a beautiful reflection on both this text and your sabbatical. Thank you, Tobi. Blessings as you re-enter the work in hopes that you will find the rhythm that allows you to remain connected to 'the one thing.' D. Mark Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12016377712982292924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-45157175433626934422016-07-13T08:24:53.471-07:002016-07-13T08:24:53.471-07:00Having JUST returned from my sabbatical, this is a...Having JUST returned from my sabbatical, this is a powerful text to return to. Before I left, I was very distinctly Martha--overwhelmed, trying to do what everyone expects, resentful, torn in many directions, irritable, angry. Upon entering sabbatical, I struggled with different 'expectations'--that of quiet and stillness and basically trying to be Mary, reclining peacefully at Jesus' feet. Instead, I shifted my energy to home improvement projects. I was feeling guilty about undermining my time until I considered this passage in a new light. Activity as a distraction seems to be what caused Martha so much grief. Activity as competition, activity as striving to meet expectations, activity in response to scarcity. These are sure-fire ways to kill the spirit. However, activity as devotion, activity as compassion, activity as worship, activity in response to abundance is very much spirit-filled. In both times of service and times of prayer, when done with healthy intent, we dwell in God's Word. That is 'the one thing' (to channel the old cowboy from City Slickers").Tobi Whitenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-66887735938184962942016-07-12T12:42:31.997-07:002016-07-12T12:42:31.997-07:00It's actually a very tricky reading. Thank yo...It's actually a very tricky reading. Thank you again for your thoughts. I've also checked out the Girardion take on this which shows Martha as being in rivalry with Mary and seeking to draw Jesus into taking sides, which is at least interesting... Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04704582145970832778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-54284386679417784362016-07-12T12:27:02.787-07:002016-07-12T12:27:02.787-07:00It's actually a very tricky reading. Thank yo...It's actually a very tricky reading. Thank you again for your thoughts. I've also checked out the Girardion take on this which shows Martha as being in rivalry with Mary and seeking to draw Jesus into taking sides, which is at least interesting... Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04704582145970832778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-77184059797480297512013-07-16T13:52:49.336-07:002013-07-16T13:52:49.336-07:00Excellent, Dwight. Nicely put and good points. Tha...Excellent, Dwight. Nicely put and good points. Thanks.From Mark Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08343191370740534861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-68925942558628117252013-07-16T07:51:09.197-07:002013-07-16T07:51:09.197-07:00It's just about always the case that we do our...It's just about always the case that we do ourselves a disservice when we cut scripture up into our Sunday Snippets. Last week, the point of the story of the Samaritan (by itself) seems to be: Being a follower of Jesus' way is a matter of diakonia, radical, day-planner-changing service. "Go and do likewise."<br /><br />Which is then followed by the story of Martha, who as you pointed out is freaking out over her diakonia. She's doing exactly that which the previous story commanded. A hoard has descended on her house, and she is trying to serve their needs.<br /><br />And the radical word from Jesus four verses after "Go and do likewise" is "you're missing the point."<br /><br />The "New Proclamation" lectionary guide ends its reflection on this with "How easy is it to miss sight of the presence of Jesus even as diakonia is our aim? How do we know when the time is ripe to follow the Samaritan's example? How do we know we have lost our way as Martha did while she was serving Jesus?" <br /><br />I'll have to ponder that. Especially as I prepare to preach to a captive audience in a retirement/nursing community.Dwighthttp://www.renewingchurch.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-29806659252015982982013-07-16T03:35:47.096-07:002013-07-16T03:35:47.096-07:00That's a very good point, Viola.That's a very good point, Viola.From Mark Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08343191370740534861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8320313747187588188.post-4889584365256626422013-07-15T14:25:46.557-07:002013-07-15T14:25:46.557-07:00I think that one of the problems people have with ...I think that one of the problems people have with this text is always reading it as a text for women when it is instead a text for disciples. We all need to sit and hear the word of God.Viola Larsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09146967423654966140noreply@blogger.com