Musings from Bishop Miller

Luke records a story about Jesus visiting the home of Martha and Mary. We know these two women from the Gospel according to John when Jesus raises their brother, Lazarus, and later Mary anoints the feet of Jesus during a dinner at their house in Bethany at which Martha serves. Luke, however, simply tells us about the two women who live in “a certain village” on the way from Galilee to Jerusalem.

As Luke tells it, from the time she welcomed Jesus into her home, Martha – who might be the older of the two sisters – is “distracted by her many tasks” (NRSV). Having hosted guests at my home, I know what it is to be distracted, pulled away from my guests by many tasks. Wishing them to feel welcome, I need to make sure they have drinks and snacks; and I must watch that I don’t burn dinner. Then there’s setting the table and serving a meal, followed by cleanup. At the end of the evening, I find I have hardly had time to visit with these friends, to hear their stories and to share mine.

Every time we gather for worship we welcome Jesus into our midst. Do we encounter him as one to be served or do we sit at his feet listening to his word? In my observations, it appears most of us respond to Jesus as Martha does, busying ourselves with the many tasks of worship: we prepare the altar and light candles, find our place in the bulletin or hymnals, make sure we approach the altar for communion at the right time. Even listening to a sermon becomes a task as we try to pay attention to what the preacher is saying. Our liturgies seem like hurried acts with leaders bustling about and worshipers anxious to accomplish their devotions.

What would happen if we slowed down, if we made ourselves available to Jesus instead of making sure we did everything right and in order? Jesus says that Mary chose the better (good or beneficial) part as she sat at his feet. I imagine he wanted Martha to understand that she could not serve him well unless she first listened to him.

I recall the times I have visited someone in hospital who, instead of allowing me to talk with them about their illness or injury so that I could pray for them, would worry that I might need something to drink or eat. How frustrating it was that they would not answer my questions or tell me how they felt about their hospitalization. I realize now that in my desire to accomplish a task of pastoral care I failed to listen to the one I visited; to understand the need that lay behind their desire to take care of me.

As we gather for worship, Jesus, whom we have welcomed into our assembly, invites us to sit at his feet and listen to his word. Only when we prepare to depart do we receive a commission: Go, Serve. Let us choose the better part.