Luke 10:38-42 "While Jesus and his disciples were
traveling, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed
him as a guest. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet
and listened to his message. By contrast, Martha was preoccupied with
getting everything ready for their meal. So Martha came to him and said,
"Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to prepare the table all
by myself? Tell her to help me."
The Lord answered,
"Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things. One
thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part. It won't be
taken away from her." CEB
Ah, Martha, a woman whose
story starts so well: she has the gift of hospitality, and has welcomed Jesus
to her home as a guest. This is a role model for us as people of faith.
We in the church have spent much of the past couple of years emphasizing
the importance of hospitality and generosity, as we welcome people to our
church and community. We've remodeled and renovated our building to make it
safer and more accessible. We've talked in small groups and in worship
settings about the gifts that new people bring to our lives, and the gifts that
we offer them---deeper relationships with God and a caring community in which
to grow in faith and discipleship.
We've talked, too, about
the way that our church "family" shares together in our joys, and
brings comfort when we face sorrows. At the beginning of the scripture
for today, Martha seems to have all this figured out; she has extended the
welcome and she has family to help her follow through.
Quickly, things take a sad
but familiar turn. Martha is conflicted. She's offered this
hospitality, but now it's become a lot of work! She's preparing a meal
for her guest, and there are lots of details to sort out. The Common
English Bible says that she becomes "preoccupied with getting everything
ready....." How modern and relatable this story becomes. Saying
"come on in," is the easy part. Actually serving the guest is the
challenge, at our home or at our church home. Did we remember to open the
right doors? Did we offer a friendly greeting? Did we show a visitor
where the nursery is, or where the Sunday School classes meet? Did we
explain about the after-church reception in the Commons (and tell visitors how
to get there)? Does the bulletin give enough detail so that someone who
hasn't been here before, could easily follow along? And, of course, if
someone needs prayer or other assistance, would they feel comfortable asking us?
Did they hear and see in us, the presence and power of God?
This brings us to the
center of the story, and what Jesus says is the "necessary" thing.
Martha is bogged down in the details, and her frustration now leads her
to a complete failure of hospitality. "Don't you care..." she
asks her guest, complaining now that her sister Mary has been listening to him,
instead of helping with dinner. She's annoyed at her family, for not
doing enough to help, and she's forgotten the whole reason for the dinner in
the first place--- to welcome Jesus. Martha even tries to triangle Jesus
into her family conflict, asking him to tell Mary what to do. There's no
welcome or warmth in that. Meanwhile, Mary has taken time to just be
in the presence of the Holy One, to make room in her life for him. Jesus
reminds Martha that this is the necessary thing, the "better part."
Our "doing" is not as central as our "being" in the holy
moments that we have together. He's speaking to her, but also to us. When
we welcome people to our church home, all the details matter, but they are
secondary to our central purpose: welcoming people to learn about Jesus,
and his love for them, so that they can form a faith relationship that will be
life changing for them. We are inviting them to share a faith
journey with us, as we listen, learn, and worship together. If we focus
on Jesus, the details will begin to become clear to us, and second nature
---because we will be genuinely welcoming and loving, caring about each person
we meet as a valuable child of God.
Prayer for the Day (from
Ruth Duck, Flames of the Spirit) "God of stillness, God of
action, help us to find a proper balance in our lives. Teach us to find
the time and space for prayer and learning, like Mary, who studied at the feet
of Jesus. May we do our share in common serving, like Martha, who offered
her skill in the kitchen. In work and in prayer, may we be worthy
disciples of Jesus, the Word of your love. Amen."
Terry Deane
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