I wrote this drama for a preaching class. The assignment was to preach incorporating a 'found text' - and at the time, I saw an ad/billboard (I can't remember what it was for!) that said "It's OK to not do it all." I remember thinking, "That's sort of what Jesus was trying to tell Martha." Then I started wondering what Martha's response was. Did she listen to Jesus and sit down? How did her life change from this encounter with Jesus? What did her friends think?
Martha:
Let’s see. The washing is all done.
And the bread baking went so much faster
with Mary to help. And we had so much
fun reminiscing about mother!
Hmm.
Dusting – I should probably dust.
No it can wait. There are more
important things than dusting every day.
Email! I have time for my e-mail. And I need to
answer Rachel last message. I don’t know
quite what to say to her….
Maybe
I should re-read our last few posts….
(7Days ago)
RE: It’s ok to not do it all.
From: Rachel [rach@rr.bethany.com]
To: Martha
[manicmartha@jcmail.net]
Dear Martha,
I can’t believe you emailed back
already! And such a chatty note! Usually it’ two weeks later and you say “been
really busy, hope everything’s ok, talk more later.” What’s gotten into you?
Anyway, I’ve been telling
you all along, it is OK to not do it all.
That’s why God gave you a sister.
You need to give that dreamer a good kick in the you-know-what and get
her to do her fair share.
I can’t believe this Jesus
told you Mary chose the better way! I
mean – what do men know about how to care for a guest. Really, he simply has no
idea just how much work it is to host a party.
What did he expect – for you to sit down and spend time with him AND
there would be a meal! Did he think
there would suddenly just be enough food for all?
Oops – gotta go. It’s time to pick the kids up from Hebrew
school.
Shalom, Rachel
(6 days ago)
RE: It’s ok to not do it all.
From: Martha [manicmartha@jcmail.net]
To: Rachel [rach@rr.bethany.com]
Dear Rachel,
You just don’t get it. When Jesus said Mary’s choice to sit and
listen to his teaching was a better choice than my choice stay in the kitchen
to prepare the meal, I WAS angry. I
couldn’t believe he took her side!
So I thought – I’ll show
him. I’ll sit down and listen and then
when dinner’s not ready, he will see that he should have sent Mary in to
help.
So I sat right down next to Mary
and started to listen. After a while, I
stopped being angry and worrying about dinner, and really listening to Jesus.
You know what – no one starved! After Jesus taught us for awhile, everyone
pitched in and we had a delightful dinner.
Those fishermen really know how to cook a fish! I even had John show me his recipe!
I had planned to wow Jesus with
my skills at hosting a party on such short notice. Instead, I actually got to
enjoy a meal with my guests! It was so
nice to be a part of the table conversation instead of running back and forth
to the kitchen. Jesus tells the most
wonderful jokes.
Shalom, Martha
(5 Days ago)
RE: It’s ok to not do it all.
From: Rachel [rach@rr.bethany.com]
To: Martha [manicmartha@jcmail.net]
Dear Martha!
I am scandalized! It’s one thing for those uncivilized
fishermen to invade your kitchen – you can’t expect Galileans to understand the
way sophisticated hosts manage their parties.
But you – you actually let them!!
I can’t say I think much of
this Jesus you’re always talking about.
He seems to be rather lacking in the manners department. He should have better control of his closest
followers. It’s like he cares more about
talking than about the right way to do things.
What did he do after the meal, roll up his sleeves and wash the dishes?
Enough of this
nonsense! I’ve got a meeting with the
synagogue women’s committee. We’re
having a bake sale so the youth group can go on the Jerusalem overnight trip –
you know the one where they get to tour the temple and meet the High Priest.
Shalom,
Rachel
Rachel
(4 Days ago)
RE: It’s ok to not do it all.
From: Martha [manicmartha@jcmail.net]
To: Rachel [rach@rr.bethany.com]
Dear Rachel,
As a matter of fact, Jesus does
care more about talking with people, and listening to their stories and taking
care of them, than about doing things the right way.
And yes, he did help with the
cleaning up, as did Mary and several of the disciples. Really, Rachel, the evening was so much more
enjoyable without having to worry about all that I needed to get done. I got to know Jesus so much better. He tells such terrific stories.
How can I help with the youth
trip? Do you need any chaperones?
Shalom,
Martha
RE: It’s ok to not do it all.
From: Rachel [rach@rr.bethany.com]
To: Martha [manicmartha@jcmail.menet]
Dear Martha,
I don’t know if you should
spend so much time with this Jesus. He
seems to be a bad influence on you. Your
mother, God bless her memory, would turn over in her grave if she knew how you
shirked out of your hostess duties and the pitiful way you entertained your
guests. Hosting guests is NOT about spending
time with them, it’s about showing off how well you run a house and how good a
cook you are. I know your mother taught
you better.
The bake sale committee
wants me to ask if you could provide the usual 6 dozen baklava, 7 loaves of
your mother’s famous bread and as much matzo as you can make. Passover’s coming you know!
Shalom, Rachel
PS – how could you possibly
find the time to chaperone!
(2 days ago)
RE: It’s ok to not do it all.
From: Martha [manicmartha@jcmail.net]
To: Rachel [rach@rr.bethany.com]
Dear Rachel,
Jesus, a bad influence! For years, you’ve been saying I’m
too busy, I work too hard. That I need
to quit trying to do it all by myself and get Mary to help me.
I’m realizing that life is about more that clothes, or
houses or food. Jesus taught me
that. That it’s just as important to
feed my soul with the bread of God as it is to make the bread that feeds my
family.
So I am taking Jesus’ advice to choose the
better part. Sometimes that’s being busy
making bread, and cleaning house and serving my family. And sometimes the better part is taking the
time to pray, and listen and look for God in the world around me. I discovered that my to-do list needed to
include both time to love God and time to love the people around me.
That’s how I finally have time to answer my e-mails. And how I can have time to chaperone the
youth trip. I’d really rather spend some
time getting to know the young people in our synagogue than making all that
baklava. How about I just make mother’s
bread for the bake sale? That way I’ll
have time to chaperone too!
Shalom, Martha
(Yesterday)
RE: It’s ok to not do it all?
From: Rachel [rach@rr.bethany.com]
To: Martha [manicmartha@jcmail.net]
Dear, Dear Martha,
That doesn’t sound like the Martha
we all know and love! I think that you
should probably stop those trips to hear Jesus preach, leave the neighbors
alone, and take care of yourself.
Concentrate on doing more of those things that you
are so good at – everyone in Bethany envies your homemaking skills. If you want to spend some time with others,
why don’t you invite some of those teen girls in and show them the proper way
to keep a gracious home and serve fabulous meals. You’re always saying how the
young girls need to spend more time learning the fine art of household
management! Mary could do with some of those lessons too!
The bake sale committee and
the youth trip organizers think that they can manage without you this
year. Really, we’re all concerned about
you. You just haven’t been acting like
yourself. Perhaps after a week or two –
stay home and let Mary take care of you for a change - you’ll feel up to
leading the annual Pre-Passover house sweeping.
Shalom, Rachel
Martha: (to herself):
Hmm. Now, what should I say to her? OH I’ve got it! (Speaking while typing)
RE: It’s ok to not do it all.
From: Martha [manicmartha@jcmail.net]
To: Rachel [rach@rr.bethany.com]
Dear Rachel,
There’s nothing wrong with
me. Actually, I feel better than I have
in years. I didn’t realize how
over-scheduled I was. I was so busy
multi-tasking, being the best home-maker, cook, hostess that Bethany had ever
seen, I forgot the most important thing.
Rachel, it really is
ok to not do it all.
Shalom,
Martha
*************************
Note: I believe in sharing, so feel free to use this drama - but please give proper credit!
Performance Note: I did this as a monologue, with a laptop as a prop. I think it would also work with 2 readers (and 2 laptops).
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