On the surface, the account seems to juxtapose Mary the contemplative with Martha the activist. Martha was actively trying to feed everyone and, in the process, became indignantly resentful at her sister, who was just sitting at Jesus’s feet. In her annoyance, she even began to boss Jesus around, saying, “Tell her then to help me” (verse 40). In that moment, Jesus tenderly acknowledged how worried, distracted, and upset Martha was. But he let her know that Mary had chosen what was better at that moment and that only one thing was necessary: attentive presence.
