The bull of St Luke

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

Jesus and Martha: Lk 10,38-42

Commonly this scene is taken as being about the sisters Martha and Mary. Why I am stressing just Jesus and Martha?

The two sisters also appear twice in the Gospel of John: Jn 11,1-45 and Jn 12,1-8. Consider characteristics of the two sisters the two Gospels.

What is Mary doing in verse 39 (see Acts 22,3)?

Consider Martha's role here: whose house is it (see 9,11 and also Acts 16,14-15)?. What is Martha doing in verse 40 (see Romans 16,1)?

How is Jesus breaking boundaries?

Check the translations of verse 42, noting especially the Jerusalem Bible.

What are the lessons in the Lord's reply to Martha in verses 41-42? How does this episode complement the preceeding scene?

Then have look at my response.

The Sunday Gospel

The story of Jesus and the two sisters is the Gospel for the 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time.

The Old Testament reading is the story of Abraham receiving three visitors at the oaks of Mamre, Genesis 18,1-10a (first half of verse 10 only). How does this illustrate the story of the two sisters? Carry on reading Genesis 18 up to verse 15. How might this longer reading accompany the Gospel?

Then go to my response.

Jesus' teachings continue as we now take our overview of chapter 11.