Luke 10:38-42
Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."
It is amazing how the lectionary so frequently intersects with everyday life. Here it is again....
On the Sunday that CRLC is extending a welcome to our Intentional Interim Pastor, we are reminded what is the better part of hospitality.
We've spent the last week or so preparing office space, initial resources, and, yes, our own minds and hearts. We have wondered what it will be like to work, pray and serve with our new interim pastor. In the midst of the practical details there have also been myriad questions moving through our heads and hearts. There is a wonderment of what it is to be "in transition"....
Bottom line is that we have never been in this place before.... none of us....including our pastors.
So we may become prone to scurry about...some may worry about getting it right, checking items off the list of "to do's". In our attempt to get it done we may actually become distracted!
In today's gospel Jesus reminds us ... turn away from the to do list. Lean into His presence....be settled at His feet and listen to all that He has to give to satisfy the desire and the longing of your heart.
The tasks will be accomplished and the questions will be answered far more effectively if we remind one another of the center of purposeful ministry...Jesus.
Let us gather together at His feet...and welcome Pastor Roger to sit with us there...and then get on with the work before us!
2 comments:
It's true that Martha was the ultimate hostess, paying attention to the details of preparing food and serving Jesus and the disciples. But I have to believe that Jesus' challenge to her to pay attention to what she can learn from him, did have an impact. We read in the 11th chapter of John that Martha, when asked by Jesus if she believed that Jesus was the resurrection and the life, proclaimed one of the most powerful testimonies of Jesus as Messiah. In early church statues, Martha is presented as a fearless defender of the faith. I like to think of Martha as a woman who learned how to balance an organizational and task-orientation with a deep spiritual hunger to learn and grow in her faith.
Thanks, Constance!
Yes....it is indeed powerful when a balance between intent "listening" and clear action is achieved. Faithful life and service are guided both by hunger and fulfillment...questions and answers...doing and being.
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