A Letter from Lindy March 16

Hi Pilgrims,

Are you a Martha or a Mary? A question, asked of me many times over the years, that sets my teeth on edge because it feels like it pits working hard against right relationship. It reminds me of a childhood family prank with our year book pictures, framed and hung on the wall in our den. We, Keenan siblings, would take delight in rearranging the order based on which of us we thought was in the “dog house” most with our parents. Being on the bottom was never good, but when we started turning the bottom picture upside down, boy, did we know one of us had blown it. I always surmised Martha’s picture was below Mary’s turned upside down, all the while busting her butt in the kitchen.

I believe, much like the theological heavy lifting we did last Sunday with “the parable of the man who fell among the robbers,” I wonder if we can work this week to begin dismantling the stigma against Martha. Poor Martha— reminding me of the Brady Bunch episode where second daughter Jan complains to her parents about her elder sister with a whiny, “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!” Heavy into nostalgia this week am I :) We know far too many faithful church-workers, dedicated “doers” who do not need their efforts to be diminished. A biblical task is for us to not belittle the real and faithful tasks that Martha devotes herself to in serving Jesus.

My prayer is that in hearing this text anew, we can honor the roles that both Mary and Martha embody— for we all need formation and praxis. Active faith and faithful action. Let us be mindful that although many translations have Jesus saying that “Mary has chosen the better part,” the Greek, indicates that Mary has chosen the “good portion,” and Martha’s tasks are called “ministry.” Perhaps Mary represents our faith, our desire to know God intimately, and Martha represents our good works, our desire to transform the world. Both are needed, and both are good.

In each of my Lenten letters thus far, I have invited us to take on a “good work.” Our desire, if not to transform our little corner of the world, to hold with care those affected by the chaos that ensues from federal budget cuts, institutional shut downs and dismantling of equity building. We talked “fasts” last week. This week, although inflation forecast offered some good news, everyday household prices remain high. I am reminded that our little food pantry is needed more than ever. Let us continue our Lenten practice of bringing shelf-stable goods to worship each Sunday in this season, so we can keep the pantry’s shelves stocked for those in need. We will have a basket in front of the communion table for you to place your items—except on Penny Sunday (which is this Sunday) when we have our youngest collect the goods from the pews.

I pray we need bigger baskets for them ;)

see you Sunday,

Pastor Lindy

(she/her) why pronouns matter