[Greek] ἐκλέγομαι (eklegomai), [Latin] legere, [Latin] eligere, [Latin] elegus, [French] choisir: to choose, to make a choice, to single out, to prefer, to select; Mk.13:20, Lk.6:13, Lk.10:42, Lk.14:7, Jn.6:70, Jn.13:18, Jn.15:16,19, Acts 1:2, Acts 1:24, Acts 6:5, Acts 13:17, Acts 15:7,22,25, 1Cor.1:27-28, Eph.1:4, Jas.2:5
Martha and Mary with Jesus: painting by Henryk Siemiradzki (1886). Martha wonders why Mary is not helping her. Jesus states that Mary has chosen a higher calling.
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to select, to choose, to prefer, and to pick.
Herodotus’ Histories 1.99: “He was careful to [select] hedge himself with all this that there were men of his own age and who had been brought up with him and nobly born.”
Plato’s Timaeus 24e: “The Goddess had furnished you all this orderly system, choosing the spot wherein you were born.”
Xenophon’s Memorabilia 1.6.14: “I fancy good friends. I teach them all the good I can. I recommend them to others from who I think will get some moral benefit.”
Plato’s Symposium 198d: “On this assumption I hoped we might pick out the fairest of the facts and set there forth in their agreeable guise.”
Xenophon’s Memorabilia 3.5.2: “Do you thing that the large number of fine, well-developed men could be selected from among the Boetians or the Athenians?”
Old Testament: This term means to choose, to prefer, to test, choice, and to examine.
Old Testament cultural attitudes to women (girls):
Women (girls) had little true freedom.
Women wept about their virginity (producing children was very important).
Women wept about their unmarried state (they were willing to marry anyone to avoid being single).
Daughters were viewed as property (given away) in marriage in a contract between families.
New Testament: This term, meaning to select (choose), refers to followers (Apostles, disciples, the lowly, the foolish, the elect, and others), places, and ancestors. Jesus chose the Twelve, yet He still knows that Judas’ betrayal fulfills prophecy. Jesus explains to Martha that Mary has found the better path beside Him. God chose Paul to speak to the Gentiles. God chose the foolish, and the lowly to shame the wise and strong. God chooses the poor in the world who become rich in faith. Jesus teaches those to find their place at the table with humbleness.
Scripture:
Lk. 10:42: Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.
Jn.15:19: But because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, as the world hates you.
1Cor.1:27: God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong.
1Cor.1:28: God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something.
Jas.2:5: God chose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom.
Mary: In contrast to Martha’s active Christian (and secular sense) of serving, Mary’s path represents a contemplative, reflective, and prayerful vocation. Mary represents the one who focuses on the spiritual realities, setting aside worldly concerns. Mary focused all her attention on Jesus. As Martha has the privilege of receiving the earthly Jesus, Mary prepares herself to receive the heavenly Christ. Mary’s vocation provides the basis for those who women who become nuns, sisters, consecrated virgins, and ‘spouses of Christ’.
Conclusion:
Elect eligible, eligibility, choose, choice, chosen, eclectic
This term not only involves choosing, but also choosing out from a number of choices. The Greek noun eklektos (elect) means “the chosen-out ones.” This involves election for an object or goal.
The Old Testament patriarchal view regarded women as vessels for bearing children. Family contractual agreements included marrying off daughters (“giving away the bride”) to another family. It was very important for a man to perpetuate the family line with many children. Virginity and singleness were both seen as curses.
Jesus illustrates the selfishness of this world. Being outside of this world, they become the children of God, following the ways of God.
True wisdom and power are paradoxical. Human wisdom becomes foolish to the ‘eyes’ of God.
God uses this paradox to shame and make human power, authority, wisdom look foolish.
The “poor” are seen as those open to God for belief in and reliance on God alone.
However, the prophets bring about a new cultural paradigm shift regarding the single state. God tells Jeremiah that he must remain single serving Him. Isa 54:1 makes reference to the barren one, receiving far numerous children. This also describes Israel, a deserted and barren country, receiving numerous exiles. This scripture foreshadows women who will become spiritual mothers to many children.
Martha’s role, often filled with distractions and competing interests, is contrasted to Mary’s single-minded efforts to focus on Jesus.
Remember the Brady Bunch?
Jan: “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia…I am tired of being in Marcia’s shadow all the time!”
Mom: “Jan, find out what you do best. And do your best with it.”
I think we can all picture this scene with Jesus and Martha:
Martha: “Lord, do you not care that Mary has left me to do the serving? Tell her to help me!”
Jesus: “Martha, Martha, Martha. Mary has chosen the better path.”
He who chooses to exalt himself will be humbled. He who chooses to humble himself will be exalted. Paul is chosen to preach to the Gentiles. God chooses the lowly, the simple, the ordinary to shame the wise and strong. The poor in faith are those who are open to God in faith and reliance on Him.
Update: We are now living in a culture where traditional Catholic (and Christian) views are hateful and extreme. (Therefore, then this must also mean that God is hateful!).
We now live a world where ‘rights’ predominate in moral issues (abortion, sex, relationships). In other words, ‘I can choose to do whatever I want!
All of us are often faced with whether or not to follow the world’s values or God’s values.
We are now living in a world where many choose to separate sex and gender (transgenderism).
Many women are weeping about their inability to get married (“hitting the wall”) due to men’s skittishness (hesitation), modern feminism’s corrupting influences, gender ideology, homosexuality, body count, and hook up culture, etc.
Ladies and girls: if you are going to remain single, consider choosing a single vocation serving others. It is your choice!
Next post (May 17): Tolerance, being “inclusive”, and false compassion
May 21: Sin and true compassion