"Busy, Busy, Busy" - Luke 10:38-42 - July 22, 2001

Our family has just experienced a major event in the marriage of our youngest daughter. This was one of those rare moments in life when I was both the father of the bride and the minister. By wearing both hats I can really appreciate all the details, errands, tasks, preparations, etc. that dominate a wedding. I think it would have been a lot simpler if we just all gathered together at a certain time and place and just let them say, "I do."

But, "No," weddings are a masterpiece, a work of art. There are many traditions to follow and a specific protocol to follow. To make it all come to pass there have been hundreds of phone calls and e-mails. Things had to be purchased, musicians had to be recruited, places had to be booked. There were motel reservations, flight reservations, even maps printed to help people find their way. There were many decisions made about who was to do what, how, and when. In a nutshell, it was absolute insanity.

When I hear the story about Mary and Martha I can really identify with Martha who was busy behind the scenes preparing a meal and doing other domestic chores. How could Jesus side with Mary, the one who sat at his feet and listened, rather than help Martha in the kitchen?

It has been my experience that most church folks are "doers." People live out their faith by helping in the kitchen, volunteering for specific tasks like greeting, ushering, helping with church bazaars, dinners, etc. This was Martha, and this for the most part is the church. But, Jesus wants us to be like Mary also. He wants us to take some time to "listen," to focus on his message rather than fill all our time with business.

Jesus tells Martha (and us) that Mary has chosen the "good portion." Not that what Martha does is unimportant, but what Mary does is a top priority. Mary is committed to listening to what Jesus had to say. Learning and being exposed to the gospel is an important part of what it means to be people of faith. Sometimes we tend to get preoccupied with serving God and forget that we also need to take time to know God closer.

We think that the Women’s Lib movement began in the sixties. It really began here in the gospel of Luke. For Jesus it was totally acceptable for Mary to leave the kitchen and be with the men while he taught. This story makes it clear that discipleship is just as important for men as it is women.

But how liberated are we? We are obsessed with doing, running here and there, doing chores, attending to errands, chauffeuring our children all over the community, filling our agendas with a multitude of tasks and lists of things to do. Jesus wants us to "be." For here he is saying it is perfectly acceptable for us to leave the business of life and take time to be open to the presence of God.

By far the greatest expense for a wedding is the reception. A dinner for 200-300 takes lots of preparation, food and money. There can be no doubt that I spent more energy for the reception for my daughter’s wedding than I did the wedding service. The reception was good since it provided a time for celebration and community. But then, how critical was it for those same folks to hear the word from I Corinthians pertaining to love? Were they listening? Are we?

Jesus is calling us to step away from the kitchen, to forget all of the chores for the day and take time to listen. In other words, he is calling us away from our personal agendas and inviting us to experience his presence.

Last Tuesday I had an appointment in Dayton with my doctor. (About 40 miles from Sidney) It took longer than I anticipated and I had to visit a man in the hospital in Troy on my return trip. I hadn’t eaten lunch and I was hungry. I purchased some fast food but decided to return by back roads instead of the interstate. My day was busy but reading about Mary and Martha encouraged me to take my time.

When I arrived at the hospital in Troy I ran into a couple who belong to our church. They had just visited their new granddaughter. Their daughter had given birth to a new baby girl. I thought to myself, "perfect, I can visit the new proud parents." I had officiated at their wedding and I knew they would be glad to see me. Chances are I wouldn’t have found out about the new baby until the following Sunday. Since new mothers spend so little time in the hospital these days, it would have been unlikely that I would have seen this new baby, let alone a few hours after she was born. (Troy is 25 miles from Sidney and my schedule the next two days wouldn’t have given me the opportunity to go there)

For me this story illustrates that when we slow down our pace we increase our chances of experiencing the presence of God. What better way to be close to God than witness the excitement of a new baby to a couple who are already a part of you?

Martha was "anxious about many things." But, Jesus did not criticize her for being busy. There is nothing wrong with serving the Lord by doing. Martha was being hospitable, entertaining her guest. Sometimes our guests need a great meal, or a clean bed to sleep in. But sometimes they need an ear, someone to listen, to hear their story or to share their dreams.

Jesus wanted Martha to realize that she couldn’t have the same expectations for Mary. In this case Mary was being the better host by being attentive, listening to Jesus’ teachings. First and foremost God wants us to be aware for our awareness draws us closer and enables us to have a more intimate relationship with God.

Martha was distracted and sometimes we are distracted. Those are the times we need to be refocused and make room in our lives for God to speak. Too much activity can prevent us from the joyful experience of living in God’s presence.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio