The Timeless Story of M&M

~~~ Galatians 1:13-24 ~~~ Psalm 139 ~~~ Luke 10: 38-42 ~~~

 

We are so familiar with the story of Martha and Mary

 that we may be tempted to let it quickly pass by.

 

Many scripture scholars have written about this gospel story

so there is really not any new perspective I can offer you.

Having several sisters I can totally identify with the complaining

about one or the other.

 

In my family I would more likely be the one sitting at the feet of Jesus

not really worrying about the food.

After all this was Jesus. He was their close friend.

They knew he had done wonderful things as he traveled

from town to town.

As far as that goes he could have taken a small portion of the food

they had on hand and made sure it was enough to feed them all.

 

Of course Martha felt it was her duty

to make sure everything was perfect...the floor swept...

the dishes cleaned and stored away...the meal prepared...the table set...

the water brought up to the house...etc.

 

Mary on the other hand was in love with what Jesus had to say.

Mary wanted to absorb all she could from the words of Jesus

without the distractions of serving at the same time.

 

Martha seems to be not only distracted, but irritated as well.

She hopes to get Jesus to correct the situation.

Martha obviously considered Jesus to be a person of authority.

"Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me."

 

She did not call for Mary to help her from another room.

No, instead she wanted Jesus to intervene on her behalf.

After all Martha was friends with Jesus too.

 

This is typical of the way we often pray intercessory prayers

on behalf of our loved ones.

We ask Jesus to act on our behalf.

We value his words.

We have the advantage in that we now have many stories

referencing the power of Jesus.

Today we know that his words are spirit and life.

 

Martha on the other hand just wanted Jesus to make

her sister get up and help her.

Martha was pulling rank on Mary in hopes that Jesus

would be on her side.

 

But we should not be surprised when Jesus

turns the tables on Martha saying...

 

"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her."
 

I would not say that Jesus did not care about Martha's request.

 Quite the contrary, he wanted her to see the situation

from a different perspective.

 

How many times in our lives are we so consumed with being 'Martha'

 that we too miss the point.

The point being, what you do for others

should never take the place of being in the presence of the Lord.

 

 

It is good that we can take the time to slip away from our daily chores;

to come and sit at the feet of the Lord.

Serving others is certainly a good thing, but listening to the word of God

is the better option.

 

It is only by truly hearing the word of the Lord

that we can then begin to serve those around us with the right attitude.

Listening and learning the words of the Lord

lay the foundation for serving others.

This timeless story of Martha and Mary provides us a model of

our pray life and our desire to serve others.

It parallels our spiritual and secular worlds.

Jesus was present to both Martha and Mary.

He was in their home...he was with them both.

 

Perhaps our challenge today is that of being able to balance our lives.

Being able to be both a Martha and a Mary.

Spiritual and secular together yet separate.

No matter where we are we are always in the presence of the Lord.

 

As psalm 139 so beautifully states...

"(Lord) you know when I sit and when I stand..."

 

Have a Blessed day no matter what you are doing.