By Sharon Wilson

“But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.'” ~Luke 10:41-42

I am blessed with five sisters—one in heaven and the others still here with me. Being a half dozen O’Connell girls gave us a bit of notoriety. The legend is that after I was born (number five, by the way), my dad painted the house pink. Years later, you could still see the trim.

He also built a new house on the farm—with three bathrooms—even though most of us had already left for college or adulthood. A man who raised six daughters knew exactly what he was doing.

The story of Mary and Martha has always caught my attention. We often remember the moment when Mary sits at Jesus’ feet while Martha tends to the work, and Jesus says Mary has chosen “the better part.”

That line can feel like a comparison.

Complementing each other

But as a woman with sisters, I don’t see rivalry as the whole story. Yes, sisters can be competitive—but more often, we are supportive. I like to think Mary and Martha were the same. Not in competition, but complementing each other.

A few years ago, after my husband passed, I went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land with one of my sisters. Among our group were two religious sisters. They quickly became the heart of our little community—full of joy, laughter, and deep faith. They led us in prayer and also in fun, and what struck me most was their delight in each other. Though they had been serving in different places, their reunion was filled with genuine love.

They were, in many ways, both Mary and Martha.

Prayerful and active. Joyful and present.

Rooted in Christ

And it made me wonder if we have misunderstood the Gospel story. Perhaps Jesus wasn’t praising one sister over the other. Perhaps He was gently reminding Martha—and us—that our work must be rooted in relationship with Him.

Because it is easy to get busy doing good things and forget why we are doing them.

Mary and Martha both loved Jesus. Both welcomed Him. Both were part of His story. And maybe the “better part” is not choosing one way over the other, but holding both together—being present to Jesus and serving with love.

I think of my own sisters—each different, each gifted—and how together we form something whole.

Just like Mary and Martha.

And maybe the better part is simply this: to love well, in whatever way we are called to do so in that moment.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me to be still with You and to serve with love. In every moment, draw me closer to Your heart. Amen.

Call to Action:

Choose one moment today to pause—just five minutes—and sit quietly with Jesus before beginning your work. Then, carry that peace into one simple act of service for someone else.

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