+ 6th Sunday after Pentecost - July 17th, 2022 +
Series C: Genesis 18:1-14; Colossians 1:21-29; Luke 10:38-42
Beautiful Savior Lutheran
Milton, WA
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
First things first. That’s why the flight attendants tell you all about the safety features on the aircraft before you take off. That’s why you assess your needs in a survival situation: water, fire, shelter, food, and so on. That’s why many of us say… “But first, coffee!”
There are priorities. What’s most important. First things first.
In today’s gospel reading from Luke 10 Jesus is teaching us, along with Mary and Martha, what is most important in the kingdom of God. What takes priority. What’s most important. First things first.
It’s a simple, familiar story. Jesus visits the village of Bethany. He’s welcomed into the home of Martha. Martha has a sister, Mary, whom Luke points out also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word. Small, but important detail. This is an ongoing action. Both sisters are disciples. Both hear his word. This is the same Martha and Mary we meet in John’s gospel when Jesus raised their brother Lazarus from the dead.
On this particular occasion, Martha is busy serving, showing a holy hospitality, when she discovers her sister Mary has left the kitchen preparations to sit at Jesus’ feet. Martha approaches Jesus, wanting Jesus to send Mary to help her out. The surprise ending is Jesus’ response. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.
Reading through this familiar story this past week I thought of at least three ways we can go wrong when reading and hearing this story and asking ourselves, “What does this mean?”
The first way to misunderstand or misuse this text would be to completely allegorize it. To characterize or separate Christians into different categories or types of people. Martha and Mary are characterized as certain desirable parts of the Christian life. There are the Martha types who enjoy spending time serving. And there are the Mary types who enjoy spending time studying God’s word. In reality, of course, like Solomon says, there is a time for everything, and both are good things.
There’s also the unfortunate, yet popular way of moralizing this story, turning Martha and Mary into an object lesson. Maybe you’ve heard that before. It usually goes something like this: “Don’t be a Martha. Do what Mary did. Be a Mary.”
The third way we often misunderstand this story is really just a combination of one and two. And it’s the common temptation to make this story all about us. That we focus so much on Martha and Mary that we lose sight of what Jesus is saying and doing in this story, in the lives of these two real women, and in your life as well…all through His word and teaching.
It’s a matter of first things first. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.
Maybe you’re like me and you’ve wrestled with this story, wondering, “Where did Martha go wrong?” It wasn’t the work. It wasn’t her heart of hospitality. It wasn’t her willingness to serve. All those are wonderful things. Important things. Good, God-pleasing things. What Martha missed was that there was something even more important than all that going on right in front of her. The work and hospitality and service of Jesus himself in his word.
Notice how Jesus speaks Martha though. It’s not the “you’re in trouble,” first and middle name (Samuel Paul Schuldheisz…come here!”). No. Jesus comes to her in her anxiousness, toil, and worry. He speaks a word of correction, yes, but in compassionate manner. He kindly says her name, twice in fact, revealing a voice of love, of deep concern, and care for Martha.
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Jesus’ point is clear. There are many important things in life. Good things. And yet there is one thing that is more important than all of those good things. What is most important of all: sitting at the feet of Jesus and hearing the word of God. Jesus and his word. That’s the good portion. There is nothing more important than Jesus’ word. Jesus’ word, Jesus’ teaching, Jesus’ dying and rising for you is the most important thing. First things first. Receiving Jesus’ word of life. His word of forgiveness. His word that makes us holy. His word that bears fruit in us to love and serve.
I don’t know about you, but this story is always revealing. Not so much in what Martha and Mary were thinking, cause the text is pretty short on details. But in revealing something about you and me.
This story confronts us with the question of our priorities. Have we kept first things first? There are many important things in life, and having taken time for those, have we also taken time for what is most important? If you’re like me, this story reveals a guilt and shame for failing to sit at Jesus’ feet more often, for not keeping the first things of his word and sacraments first.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. This is why you are here because you know there’s nothing more important for us than to hear the Word of God and receive his Holy Supper regularly, faithfully, intentionally. It’s more important than sports practice. It’s more precious than those few extra hours of sleep you might get on Sunday. It’s more pressing than any housework or yardwork or home improvement project on your to-do list this weekend.
This is what is of most importance. Right here. Right now. In the Divine Service. Jesus is forgiving you your sin. Jesus is speaking to you in his word. Jesus is feeding you with his body and blood. Here Jesus gives you the good portion of his death and resurrection. That’s why we’re here. Not because we have a perfect devotional life, but because we know we need Jesus. We need his forgiving word. We need his healing body and blood.
In the end, that’s the way of things in the kingdom of God. Not that we have served God perfectly. Not even that we have a pious and faithful devotional life. But that Christ himself who served Martha and Mary in his teaching, also serves you. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Jesus went on from Martha’s home in Bethany and to Jerusalem, to the cross for Martha, Mary, and for you.
And there Jesus labored so that all of our worries, anxieties, and fears; all of our failures, shame, and guilt – would be nailed to the cross. To save you. Die and rise for you. Forgive you. To give you his Word of life. That is Jesus’ highest priority. His most important thing of all. That’s good portion he gave to Mary, Martha, and still gives you.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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