Luke 10:38-42, 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Gospel story of Martha and Mary often gets interpreted as a call to balance action and contemplation. That’s a comforting takeaway—but it may not be the full message. After all, Jesus clearly says Mary has chosen “the better part.” So, perhaps the Gospel invites us not to balance these two, but to prioritize rightly.

Someone once said, “Christianity is not about balance—it’s about extravagant love.” Think of the woman who broke the alabaster jar to anoint Jesus with costly perfume. That wasn’t calculated or cautious. That was love poured out without counting the cost. In this spirit, the story of Martha and Mary teaches us that discipleship begins with receptivity, not with busyness.

The Christian life does call us to both contemplation and action—but in the right order. Listening gives meaning to our service. Without it, our activity loses direction; it becomes anxious, and eventually, empty. You cannot serve well whom you do not love—and you cannot love well whom you do not know.

So, what is that “better part”? It’s this: Listening comes before serving. Discipleship begins not with activity , but with stillness and being attentive and open to the Lord. In recent times, some have explored this Gospel through a feminist lens. They highlight how Mary defies cultural expectations by sitting at Jesus’ feet as a disciple—a role traditionally reserved for men. That’s certainly a liberating image. But if Martha is seen as representing women’s active role in community, the story can seem to dismiss that contribution too. In other words, damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

But perhaps that’s not the point Luke is trying to make. The Gospel of Luke emphasizes hospitality throughout. But true hospitality isn’t just food and cleaning. It’s giving your guest what they truly need. And in this moment, Jesus doesn’t ask for a meal. He wants hearts that are open, still, and listening.

Poor Martha. She welcomed Jesus into her home, but not into her schedule. She entertained him on her own terms—and her busyness led to bitterness. Jesus calls her out for being “worried and anxious about many things.” Mary, on the other hand, realized that their guest was in fact the true Host—the one offering something far more nourishing than anything they could give.

Our first task as disciples is to receive. To sit at his feet and listen. Cross-referencing other Scripture passages greatly enriches our reflection on this Gospel. Consider where this story is placed in Luke’s Gospel. Just before it, we heard the Parable of the Good Samaritan—a powerful call to action, to love our neighbor. Immediately after Mary and Martha, we hear the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. And so sandwiched between action and prayer, the story of Mary and Martha seems to tie the two together: right prayer leads to right action. Listening leads to loving. Mary’s posture at Jesus’ feet even echoes another passage: “Foxes have dens, birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20)  In the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, Jesus found a resting place—a refuge. He frequented their home in Bethany. And today, he still knocks at the doors of our hearts: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…” (Revelation 3:20)

Are we too busy to open the door? Jesus tells us: “Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)  Like Mary, who represents the good soil in Jesus’ parable, we are called to receive the Word and bear fruit—not to let it be choked by anxieties and distractions. (Luke 8:15)  Finally, we see another powerful example in Lydia from Acts 16. A successful businesswoman, she opened her heart to Paul’s preaching—and then opened her home in support of his mission. That’s service born from listening.  

Four Take-Home Messages:

1. Don’t let doing for Jesus replace being with Jesus.

2. Listening is the first act of love.

3. If your service leaves you anxious, resentful, or joyless—it’s time to pause and pray.

4. Choose the better part. Sit at his feet. It will not be taken away from you.