Our scripture today is Luke 10:38-42.
As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
I remember hearing this story when I was younger and thinking “if I’m listening to Bible stories, I can get out of chores!” That’s not exactly what Jesus was saying, and I don’t believe it was Mary’s motivation either. However, Jesus is telling us that all the bustle and fuss we go through (especially during the holidays) pales in comparison to our eternal connection to God.
We sometimes get more wrapped up in the details of making things happen than the reasons we do them. Once while planning a service to honor members who had passed during the year, I was very concerned about making things “perfect” – the slide show, the music, the dinner – and I found that while those things were important, what was essential was the connection all those we remembered had to God, their church and their community.
Jesus says we must focus on what is most important, God’s love for us and His desire for us to love one another. These are the things that matter most, not the decorations or the meal. While I’m sure Jesus was grateful for all of Martha’s efforts to welcome Him, we hear Him tell her “There is only one thing worth being concerned about” (v. 42). Once we are focused on our relationship with God, everything else becomes secondary.
Loving Lord, we are blessed that You came to teach us the way to be reconciled with God through You. Help us to share this joy with all our brothers and sisters. Amen.