The Better Part

As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, Jesus 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." Luke 10:38-42

I am one of four sisters, and know how hard it can be to get things done when people aren't pulling their weight. I was always more of a Martha than an Mary, and often struggled when others were not willing to help, just wanting to have fun. We can get so wrapped up in our tasks that we can miss the joy and celebration.

Jesus is visiting with these sisters. Martha just wants a little help from her seemingly always missing sister. Jesus knows we can get so caught up in the work ahead, and the tasks that surrounds us, that we fail to see love right in front of us. We fail to enjoy and celebrate it when we have it. We get caught up in the work and lose sight of the people and God's loving presence among us. We expect they will always be there and that there will be time. But there isn't always time and Jesus knew how limited his time just might be. He wanted Martha to relax and accept the love she was being given. God invites us today to set aside the tasks and take up the relationships - the people, the community and the Creator who surrounds us with love.

Today, I ask God to help me let go of tasks and take up love. May we celebrate and rejoice in the love we have been given. May we delight in the people who show us God's love, and be those people who take time to share love with others.


The Collect

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.