Franciscan Friar Fr. Paul Gallagher reflects on the Gospel readings for the Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time. How do you experience gender roles in society and in your personal life? What emotions arise within you by those experiences?
The content is edited by Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Anne Marie Lom and Joe Thiel. The excerpts from the Sunday readings are prepared by Joe Thiel. To read or download the complete pdf with excerpts for your prayer, please click here: Franciscan Gospel Reflection July 20 2025. Excerpts are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Photos: Andrewrabbott, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons;Nheyob, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Luke 10:38-42
As they continued their journey Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
Background:
Last week’s Gospel text ended with Jesus telling the familiar parable of the good Samaritan. He told the parable to a scholar of the law who had asked what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. The parable was told when he asked Jesus who was his neighbor. Luke places this account of Martha and Mary right after the parable of the good Samaritan.
Often Mary and Martha are understood as representing two types of service or models of discipleship. Martha is seen as representing the active ministry, and Mary as the contemplative ministry of prayer and study. While this line of reflection may be very helpful, it misses what would have been most apparent to the people of Luke’s community.
In the text Jesus is welcomed into the home and company of two women without the protective presence of a male authority figure. It was also very unusual for a woman to own property. Jesus as an unaccompanied male would draw the attention of Luke’s community. In this text Jesus ignores the norms of keeping an appropriate distance from women. Traditionally men inhabited the public spaces in the community and within homes. Women were expected to stay separated, going to the well in the early morning and remaining in the kitchen and the private places of the house.
Reflection Questions:
- How do you experience gender roles in society and in your personal life? What emotions arise within you by those experiences?
- Do you have any role models who have helped you navigate this issue in your life?
- What does it say to you, the fact that Jesus is willing to accept the hospitality of two women and Luke is able to record the incident in his Gospel?
- What are some things that might have motivated Martha to complain about Mary to Jesus?
- Why do you think Martha did not approach Mary with her concern?
- What does the fact that Luke has placed this story right after the parable of the good Samaritan suggest to you?
- Can you take some time now to talk with Jesus about how he responded to Martha in this Gospel, or how society and/or the church treats women, or how you are challenged by this text?
