Mary or Martha?
Thought for your day #8, Sun 9/3/00
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.
This passage inspires, fascinates and haunts me. It has for years. It is so incredibly personal and relevant to who I am and where I live. Frankly, it seems to really speak for itself, but I do want to make a few remarks.
 | We've talked about the Sabbath before. And yes, we do all need rest. But there is something different here. I mean, why wasn't it sufficient for Martha to do all of her work and then take the Sabbath? Hmm? Think about it. |
| For me, the answer is one of motive beyond action. It is all too easy to get caught-up in "all the preparations" we "need" to do. Thanksgiving Dinner, for example. Almost every year I have participated in the so-called Holidays, someone somewhere gets upset about "something"...The rolls aren't hot enough, there's no more dressing, I really don't want to have to sit next to him....You can certainly insert your own memories and stories here. The point is, what is the point? The rolls and dressing all too quickly become an end in themselves, instead of a means to an end. The rolls and dressing "should" be symbols, tokens we use to express appreciation and gratitude, and that has nothing to do with whether they are the color we like. |
| I think it is very significant that Martha is complaining, NOT that she is doing work. We are all different people: some are thinkers, some are doers, and a billion other combinations. Martha could have had a heart of joy as she did her different activities, but this was not the case. Listen carefully: In begrudgingly doing the chores Martha lost her peace of mind; she was not acting with love, peace or joy. THAT was her problem. |
| In other words, What would it profit Martha to gain the best dinner ever, since she had already lost her soul?!?!? |
| And, Dear Reader, we (most of us) do that every single day!! This is the "Long-Roundabout-Pathway-To-Peace-And-Happiness" that we all too eagerly buy into: "If I can destroy this person then I will have their job and then I will get the extra money and then I will be able to buy the speedboat and then I will be really happy." Even if true (it almost never is) this is sad, because there is a much better, more powerful way: To symbolically sit at the Lord's feet, aka a life of thoughtful, prayerful meditation and worship. |
| What are you doing? Actually, factually doing today? Are you going through the motions? Are you full of anger and resentment? Or do you experience purpose and direction in what you do, knowing that even if the present tasks (in and of themselves) are not necessarily pleasant they are desirable and valuable because they work toward the greater purpose? |
| Look....I want you to be able to live this. You can take even the simplest actions and, by transforming your thinking, they can become sacred. Even "bad" things like taking out the trash or cleaning the cat's box....Focusing on the clean, healthy environment (which is the goal and purpose) actually can transform those unpleasant tasks into ones of worship. |
| Last thought: the "will not be taken away from her" comment is so important. The "roundabout" pathway I mentioned above is fraught with peril: everything has to be just right, or else the hoped-for "happiness" will fail. But the life which is directly, immediately grounded in the Spirit and Devotion is rock-solid. |
What is the focus, the purpose, of your life and action? That is the key.
And if you don't know, the first thing to do is find out.
