"Every morning

Luke's story of Mary and Martha:

As part of Luke's theology of Jesus:

In Luke 10:21 Jesus is reported to have said; "I praise you, God of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned but revealed them to the untutored, yes indeed, God, because this is the way you want it."

And in Acts 2, a major portion of Luke's theological vision is revealed when the author quotes the prophet Joel:

In Luke's story about Mary and Martha, Mary, who would not have had access to education or tutoring, dares to take a place at the table and to join the men reclining next to Jesus as he teaches them about the Kindom of God. I have often heard this scene described as one of submission and deference, with Mary kneeling piously at Jesus' feet while he sits above her. But that image fails to take into account the fact that in the first century Mediterranean world people would recline length-wise on benches or pillows and the person reclining at your feet is simply the person sitting next to you. If Mary was reclining next to Jesus, as Luke tells us, she would be occupying an honored place beside him since the people who sit next to the teacher are considered to be of special status.

Not only does Jesus allow this unorthodox inclusion of Mary at the gathering but he defends her right to be there saying that the part she has chosen will not be taken away from her. It sounds to me like Luke is making a statement about Mary's authority as a leader of the early Jesus movement. And I imagine he would never have made such a statement unless the historical Mary had actually done something pretty memorable and lasting. So here in Luke's gospel Mary is daring to claim an honored place at the table, daring to enter into a relationship with him just as a man would.

Far too often in contemporary Christianity we elevate belief statements about Jesus over an actual encounter with Jesus that would allow us to sit beside him and hear his voice, hear his teachings as if it were for the first time. We get so hung up on whether or not we believe the right thing that we forget that what is right is not a thing at all, but a relationship. Within the context of a relationship we can claim the right to come to the table without waiting for someone else's approval or authorization.

I've been reading a book titled "SAVING JESUS FROM THE CHURCH," by Robin Meyers. This is the book I am planning to study when our book group starts up again in September. Meyers believes that Christianity at its core is about relationship and that our modern day preoccupation with creeds and belief statements misses the whole point. To recover the relationship we have to demote Christ to the level of humanity once again. Meyers writes;

Meyers then goes on to describe a theology of relationship as articulated by twentieth century Jewish philosopher Martin Buber in his book "I AND THOU." Buber outlined in his book a dialogical way of being in the world that could either be expressed as I - Thou or I - It. In an I - Thou mode one is able to encounter another authentically, with the totality of one's being, without objectifying the other. It is the kind of deep relation in which we can also connect with God. An I - It mode, on the other hand, is not an authentic encounter as the two are objects and reside in the thoughts, needs, and projections of the individual mind.

Having read and been inspired by Buber when I was in college, it was a joy to see his thinking reappear in Meyers' book and to have Buber's insights applied to Christianity today. Meyers sums up the opportunity for transformation of church and society today when he writes;

Quoting Buber he adds;

In other words, it sounds like both Meyers and Buber are saying that you still can't take away Mary's, or anyone's, right to sit at the table.

Last weekend, while I was at a Men's Retreat, we sang a song that I found deeply moving. It was written by Kimball Hurd, though judging from the words it just as well could have been written by Mary. The first part goes;

"I am not a stranger in this world

Not some uninvited guest

I will take my place at the table and

Shine - Shine - Shine - Shine"

- Kimball Hurd

Shining, we claim our place at the table. We know that we were created for authentic relationships; that we are meant to live a free, mature, loving people. And no one can take away our place in creation. No one can take away our shining light.

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at Jesus' feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to Jesus and asked, ëLord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.' But Jesus answered her, ëMartha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.'