"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-41
Mary and Martha are often trivialized. Mary is portrayed as the one who seeks to be still, contemplating the Lord; Martha as the one who gets things done. As it often the case today, Martha resents Mary’s idleness.
Rather than focusing on Martha's complaint, listen instead to the Lord's response. “…you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.” Martha complained about the surface issue, the visible tension of the moment. But, Jesus addressed the heart.
Martha needed many things. There were many things that had to be just so, before she would allow herself to abandon her worry and upset. And even then she would have been anxious knowing how short lived are the moments when life’s circumstances favorably align.
"Lord, why am I not yet married? My spouse isn’t who I thought he was. Why won’t you help us get pregnant? My children are out of control, they have no heart for you or me. Why can’t I get a good job? I’m so tired of this run down house. We never have enough money. Why is everyone else’s ministry growing and larger than mine?"
Jesus said, “you are worried about many things, but only one thing is needed.” Anything beyond our reach or that can be lost isn’t absolutely necessary. We are Martha when our joy and peace are dependent upon a host of things that are not promised. That’s why we’re upset and afraid. The many things we’ve told ourselves we have to have, are either beyond or reach or only precariously within our grasp.
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-41
Mary and Martha are often trivialized. Mary is portrayed as the one who seeks to be still, contemplating the Lord; Martha as the one who gets things done. As it often the case today, Martha resents Mary’s idleness.
Rather than focusing on Martha's complaint, listen instead to the Lord's response. “…you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.” Martha complained about the surface issue, the visible tension of the moment. But, Jesus addressed the heart.
Martha needed many things. There were many things that had to be just so, before she would allow herself to abandon her worry and upset. And even then she would have been anxious knowing how short lived are the moments when life’s circumstances favorably align.
"Lord, why am I not yet married? My spouse isn’t who I thought he was. Why won’t you help us get pregnant? My children are out of control, they have no heart for you or me. Why can’t I get a good job? I’m so tired of this run down house. We never have enough money. Why is everyone else’s ministry growing and larger than mine?"
Jesus said, “you are worried about many things, but only one thing is needed.” Anything beyond our reach or that can be lost isn’t absolutely necessary. We are Martha when our joy and peace are dependent upon a host of things that are not promised. That’s why we’re upset and afraid. The many things we’ve told ourselves we have to have, are either beyond or reach or only precariously within our grasp.
Janis Joplin sang, "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose." That doesn't mean we need to lose it all in order to be free. It simply voices the call to reduce our 'have to have' list to the one thing needed. At that moment, we will be truly free.
No comments:
Post a Comment