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As both a student of Biblical history and an inclusion practitioner, I have maintained a fascination with Biblical icons Martha and Mary. Other than the relationship Jesus had with his mother, Mary, his friends Martha and Mary are the most recognizable relationships Jesus maintains with women throughout his 30-plus year adult life. What makes the interactions recounted between these three people so remarkable is that these gender-diverse relationships got this much attention from male authors of the Bible, whose writing instruments were sharpened in a world that barely noticed women at all. 

It is clear Jesus held Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus in high regard. The writer of the Gospel of John records Jesus stating his affection for these close friends three times. One of those occasions was when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead four days after his burial. All these events were precursors to one of the most powerful gender inclusion stories in the Bible — when Jesus visits his beloved friends for a meal. 

Most Biblical scholars think Martha welcomed Jesus onto the property which indicated she was the probable owner of the estate and possibly a wealthy woman. After greeting Jesus, Martha, the older sister, busied herself with preparing the meal while her younger sister, Mary, sat at Jesus’ feet, hanging on his every word. 

We have all been in Martha’s shoes as we multitask, juggle multiple responsibilities, and occasionally watch the wrong scoreboard.  

After some time passed, Martha could not take it anymore and strongly suggested to Jesus that Mary should be helping her instead of catching up on the latest gossip. She instructs Jesus to order Mary into the kitchen without delay. 

Jesus replies to Martha in the words of the writer of Luke’s Gospel: “But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things. One thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.’ ” (Luke 10:41-42) 

Jesus has just framed the challenge around, and hope for, fostering inclusion. 

'Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things. One thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.’ (Luke 10:41-42) Jesus framed the challenge and hope for fostering inclusion.  Share on X

In my career as an inclusion practitioner, I have often been called a grinder, like Martha. Leading inclusion learning conversations; coaching and mentoring customers, clients, and constituents; and completing transactions accompanied by thousands of duties, tasks, and assignments for the advancement of inclusion. I have embraced the inclusion experiment from the perspective that faith without works is dead. My inner Martha would be proud. 

Despite a lifetime of service to inclusion, my heart is troubled as I enter the twilight of my career. I see the seeds of inclusion I planted for the recognition and embracing of differences being washed away by a world that appears to be going backward when it comes to creating a planet that works for everyone. 

Despite a lifetime of service to inclusion, my heart is troubled as I enter the twilight of my career. I see the seeds of inclusion I planted for the embracing of differences being washed away by a world that is going backward. Share on X

I must confess to moments of panic, anxiety, and desperate worry that instead of contributing to the promised land of inclusion, I have left behind a desert of cordial hypocrisy. Cultures of niceness, fakeness and relationships of co-existence. A cheap version of inclusion that stinks like a leaking toxic waste dump. 

The story of Mary and Martha has brought me back to my senses. The most important thing about inclusion may not be the results of our work led by the Marthas of this world, but the hope for and truths behind the work guided by the Marys. 

The most important thing about inclusion may not be the results of our work led by the Marthas of this world, but the hope for and truths behind the work guided by the Marys. Share on X

I think this is what the Trappist monk Thomas Merton tried to convey when he wrote, “Do not depend on the hope of results … you may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and even achieve no result at all, if not perhaps results opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea, you start more and more to concentrate not on the results but on the value, rightness, the truth of the work itself.” 

Jesus was right all along. “The truth will set us free.”