Hospitality and Trust: Lessons From St. Martha
“She [Martha] said to him, ‘Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world” (John 11:27).
Imagine you’re hosting a holiday meal at your home. Maybe it’s Thanksgiving or Christmas or some other special occasion. What are you thinking about? Are you rushing to get all the food prepared? Are you rapidly tidying up and shoving your kids’ toys into separate rooms? Are you trying to make sure the tablecloth is wrinkle-free and the glasses are placed perfectly?
Now, imagine Jesus is coming to your house for dinner. Your anxiety might be kicked up a notch as you prepare your home for the Savior of the world to enjoy a meal with you. You may be even more concerned with how the table looks, how you’re dressed, and if you have enough food for everyone.
Who Is St. Martha?
Do you remember the Gospel story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)? Jesus enters the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha to share a meal with them. While Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, basking in all He has to share with them, Martha is scrambling to get dinner ready and prepare the table. She even complains to Jesus about how her sister has abandoned her to prepare the meal all by herself.
Does this remind you of your own struggles with hosting at your home or preparing a big event in your workplace?
Jesus reassures Martha that she is anxious and worried about many things, while Mary has chosen the “one thing” that matters: sitting at Jesus’ feet.
I think many of us can relate to the anxiety and worry St. Martha feels. Whether it’s preparing a meal, creating an important business presentation, or running errands for our family, we can often grow worried in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Our to-do lists seem never-ending, demands at work can feel overwhelming, and sometimes, we feel guilt and pressure from the demands of our work and home lives. Like St. Martha, we can feel like worrying is necessary and that there’s no way to escape it.
A Valuable Lesson
Jesus shares with Martha—and with us—the importance of sitting at His feet. Bringing our worries to Christ not only brings us closer to Him but helps us navigate our troubles and lessen their burden on our own heart. The nitty-gritty details of our day-to-day life are not significant when we consider our life’s journey.
This truth is demonstrated in another Gospel story about St. Martha (John 11:1-34). Jesus’ good friend Lazarus has died, and He journeys to see his family and mourn with them. When Jesus arrives, Martha drops everything, even though she is at home with company and grieving her brother’s death, and runs to see Him.
In the dialogue that follows, Mary shares how she believes that Jesus is the Messiah Who has come to save the world. She has complete trust that Jesus is the Son of God and that He can save all of us. Shortly after that conversation, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
What Can We Learn From St. Martha?
Today is the feast day of St. Martha, the patron saint of homemakers and cooks. Through the Gospel stories about her, she teaches us two important lessons that we can carry with us throughout our busy days.
The first lesson is faithful hospitality. Although it can be easy to get caught up in the perfection of our home when we host (or even the perfection of our office space when we invite new investors, employees, or clients into them), it’s more important to be authentically ourselves and allow our places to be a space of community.
When people walk into your home, do what Jesus would do: Provide them with a place of rest, a place of hope, a place of prayer. Serve them with a generous heart, and don’t worry about the imperfections. Share a prayer before your meal, check in on your loved ones, and provide a safe place for conversation and community-building.
The second lesson is complete trust in the Lord. When things don’t seem to be going our way, whether it’s at work, in our home, or with our friends and family, it’s important to take time to sit at the feet of Jesus. Jesus shared with Martha that the one thing that matters is to spend time with Him. We can become anxious and worried about so many things, but if we place our trust in Jesus and believe that He walks with us through the dark and low points in our life, we can overcome anything. Trust in the Lord with all your heart (Proverbs 3:5), and believe that He has your back, no matter the circumstance.
St. Martha, pray for us!
Marisa McDonald lives in Central Indiana with her husband and energetic German Shepherd pup. She is the Community Manager for a local nonprofit which connects women in the community with professional mentorship opportunities. She aspires to start her own social enterprise or non-profit some day. On weekends, you can find her hiking with her husband and dog throughout Southern Indiana, making meals and hosting family and friends, or heading to the local coffee shop for a latte. Connect with Marisa through Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.