On his way to Jerusalem, according to Luke 10:38-42, Jesus makes a stop in a village to visit his friends, Mary and Martha (and probably Lazarus, too). Remember, the ancient world didn’t have a Holiday Inn at every major stopping point, so the occasional hospitality that Jesus and his disciples received along the way must have been a great relief. At least they would know where they would eat and sleep for one night.
The interesting part of this story is how things fall apart between the sisters. Like so many sisters, they were polar opposites. Martha liked to stay busy, keeping house and being the perfect hostess. Mary, on the other hand, seemed willing to let some things slide. Martha flits about, doing all the work of preparation. Mary, instead, sits at Jesus’ feet, and listens to what Jesus is saying.
Have you ever been in a room where someone passive-aggressively bangs pans and dishes or other objects as a less-than-subtle sign of his/her perturbance? I don’t blame Martha for wanting some help — it’s only fair.
Mary, however, has recognized that the plot has changed. Other Gospels suggest that Mary and Martha lived in Bethany, only a stone’s throw from Jerusalem. She must have sensed the urgency of the moment and was not going to miss a thing.
Last week, Kori and I received our first COVID-19 vaccination at a large vaccination site. It was completely unlike anything I had experienced before, seeing hundreds of people signing in, assigned to nurses stations and monitored for any adverse reactions. Kori went through before me, and she made sure to tell Layne to keep her eyes open: this is history happening, and she should not miss a thing. Nothing like this has happened before, and hopefully will ever have to happen again.
There is a pull in our lives between our need to feel busy and needed, and our real need to be near Jesus. As we turn toward Jerusalem, following in the footsteps of Jesus, let us attend all the more to his word.
Buen Camino!
Rev. Dr. David Chisham
© 2021 All rights reserved.