Priorities and Expectations

Today's Gospel reading is from Luke - the story of Jesus, Martha and Mary:

In the course of their journey Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’

When I read this story I'm reminded of the importance of staying aware of priorities in life. And I suppose along with priorities come expectations and perceptions.

Jesus doesn't seem like the type of guy who would come to your house and expect to have all sorts of food to served for him to snack on, to have his cup always filled and so on. But Martha had certain expectations of how guests are to be treated. Some of her approach was probably cultural, but surely some of it was just how Martha thought things ought to be done. If you have a guest, it's just polite to make sure they are comfortable, and it's also sort of an honor to serve them.

I picture Mary as the independent-minded little sister, the one who's occasionally irritating others because she's doing her own thing, bucking the trend and tradition. She's looking at a situation and thinking 'what can I gain from this?', and then she goes for it. Both Martha and Mary had probably heard of Jesus and knew how important and special he was. They had different ways of responding – he's an important guest for me to serve; and he has a lot of important things I need to listen to.

For me, the story shows how Jesus came more as a servant than a guest to Martha and Mary, to share with them and enlighten them. Jesus points out to Martha, and to us, that he's wanting us to listen to him rather than spend a lot of time on peripheral things that make us all more comfortable. Those peripheral things around our encounter with Jesus are fine and comforting, but they are not the priority and they can't get in the way of our encounter with him.

We spend a lot of energy and resources on being comfortable in our encounter with Jesus. We spend millions on building huge, grand churches and related buildings; I've heard them actually called 'campuses'. We spend all sorts of mental energy taming the Gospel and creating logic to soften some of the sharper points Jesus spoke about. We emphasize parts of the Gospel that are attractive to us and push the rest into the background. We spend more time listening to so-and-so who preaches a good message (i.e. a message that is comforting and nonthreatening to our point of view) than we do listening to Jesus.

That can all be more comfortable than sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to his message, without interruptions, or distractions, or anything else to water it down. And it's a bit more threatening because if we really listen like that, our lives might change.

Comments

[Suzanne]

May I share with you the Online Retreat entitled The Better Part: Family and Friendship Relationships with Martha and Mary @ http://www.trinityshawls.com/knit-to-pray/

Blessings, Suzanne

[O]

Of course, as our priest was saying today, action and devotion do not need to be mutually exclusive but there must be balance. For my part I know I am a little bit Mary and a lot Martha so, I'm still working out my salvation in fear and trembling. But I do take comfort in knowing that my action, surrendered to God and given over to him as an acceptable worship is not inherently a bad thing at all.

[Patrick]

Hi All. As someone who loves this story and links it to the story of the Woman from Samaria at the well, I believe these two stories are unique, in a sense. Some years ago I lost a lot of my manual dexterity through disease. I am very limited in what I can do physically, in terms of lifting, walking, etc. My wife now has to do a lot of extra gardening, etc., that we used to enjoy working at together. I sometimes get quite annoyed and frustrated because of this situation. And then these two readings come up. Jesus sitting down and just talking and listening with people. You can only imagine the consolation this brings to me. When I am having one of those "good days", when my physical limits impose themselves, I am sitting there feeling sorry for myself and frustrated with the doctors and medical profession geneally, who have not found a cure for me, AND I am angry with God for allowing this disease and its consequences AND then not curing me, despite my own and many other peoples prayers, I am reminded of these two pieces of scripture. Jesus sitting down at the well and in the home of Martha and Mary and talking/listening........ Is there a message for me in this Moment.

Is there something about this Presence, of being present in the moment, being more about B-E-I-N-G rather than doing? Yes we need to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned, etc. Maybe Jesus is saying something to me in this moment of stillness, this moment of inactivity. Maybe my present to others is to be truly His Presnce for them, with a listening ear and time. Maybe I have been given the greater gift, that of stillnes in the storm of activity, the ability to be inactive with ease as distinct from doing over-active with dis-ease, if you get my drift. I love when God takes the pressure off of me and my self-pity. God can turn any situation into a moment of healing, worship and praise.

Just so as to be clear I am not saying that activity is bad in itself. BUT when our activity takes us out from our presnce to and for each other we may need a bit of a metanoia. Thank God for Mary and Martha and the Woman from Samaria. Indeed thank God for comfortable chairs to sit on. Ah Heck, just thank an Praise God, for all there is!

[jim]

"We spend a lot of energy and resources..."

I'm thinking a bit of our breakfast conversation is still rolling around in your spirit, Steve. Your last two paragraphs are better said, but right out of my own theology. My buddy in Pensacola has invited me to teach his adult Sunday school class a week from this Sunday. May the same Spirit that connects us in ways beyond our blogs have His continued Way in our lives...

[Steve Bogner]

Suzanne - That looks like a nice retreat! Thanks for mentioning it.

Owen - Thanks for commenting; yes, our actions can be a form of worship. I think what matters is that it comes from the heart, based in love. At my parish, the priest who had mass was ordained in the 50's. He said back then this story was meant to point out that the contemplative life was inherently better than the active. But knowing he would be a very active diocesan (and later, Jesuit) priest, he wasn't comfortable with that interpretation. I'm glad we have come to have more than one interpretation of this story now.

Patrick - Thanks for sharing that! And yes, that could be frustrating. I like your attitude!

Jim, I do think a bit of it was stilling rolling around in my head. Great timing to have this Gospel story come up...

[Melanie Steffan]

Now the reason I came to your site is that an important message has been sent down, just like a News Update. Please read and pass it along. I have a message to tell you about Revelation. The message is from God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost sent in the Spring of 2006. It is about the meaning of First is Last and Last is First. The message is this: In the morning I go to Heaven. In the afternoon I live my life. In the evening I die, death. What does this mean? In other words this means Birth is Last and Last is Birth. To understand this don't think from point A to point B. Think of this as a continous circle of life. Birth, Life, Death, Birth. God also said that Judgment will be before Birth in Heaven. As birth on Earth is painful so will birth in Heaven. It is possible that this message was delivered by one of God's Angels. Yes, God has recently made contact and he sent a messenger. Spread this message along, just like a chain letter. Oh, one more thing of interest. Did you know that Mike Douglas died on his Birthday. Melanie Steffan

[jim]

Patrick, I sat down here, began talking with Steve, and, as usual, forgot the fulness of what was found in the entirety of the community that gathers here. What beautiful witness you give of "Christ in me". Always, when we surrender all that we are unto Him, He is able to break, bless, and feed the multitude.

[Wayne]

Steve

had to laugh on Sunday as our rector gave his thoughts on these passages for I had spent a lot of time Friday and Saturday making food for friends. But I garden and love to cook and what is a person to do. we are here to serve others. I do a lot of cooking with students in the summer and I don't mind cleaning up as they eat. They spend so much time listening to commands from staff, including myself, that it is good to reverse it at times.

well both nights, I spent more time at the table then in the kitchen.

one more thing... spending time listening to Christ... this is why I retreat at Wernersville. I go for 8 days with little expectation- a chance to be silent which allows me to stop and see what is happening in my heart and take it to God.

Peace

[crystal]

If I could choose, I'd be Mary :-)

[lorenzothellama]

This is all very well and taken from a man's point of view, but if Jesus and twelve hungry men turned up at Mary and Martha's door and there was no food for them, there would have been trouble! It's Martha I feel sorry for!
Lorenzo.