Mary and Martha

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:

Because joy is something we experience rather than acquire, Advent is a special time when we slow down and delight in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He came as the joy of our salvation, and he will come again so that our joy will be made complete. But what about the in-between? How do we experience this deep joy here and now? Luke show us how in the story of Mary and Martha.

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.”

Martha is busy serving: cleaning, cooking, serving and entertaining, mak­ing sure everything is just right. Mary is the complete opposite. She likes to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen, contemplate and soak in the moment. Whether grieving or serving or worshipping, Mary always seems to make her way to the feet of Jesus.

“Martha came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’”

As in, “Look, I am doing all the work, which seems to be going unnoticed by the way, and my sister isn’t doing anything! I am doing all this for you, but she is getting all the attention.”

If you have ever been the one doing all the work while others stand by, then you can understand Martha’s frustration. The only thing worse than doing more than your fair share is not being noticed for it.

“But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things,  but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’”

In other words, “Martha, you are confused. Joy cannot be acquired; it can only be experienced. Quit trying to acquire my approval. Quit looking for joy in your busyness. Don’t you understand? Joy comes from being in my presence. Joy comes from experiencing the power of the kingdom of God that I have come to restore. You cannot acquire it for yourself. You can only experience it as you experience me.”

In what ways are you trying to acquire or manufacture joy for yourself? Do you work hard at your job for approval from others? Or do you work hard to make sure you have enough money to buy the things that you think will really make you happy? Do you try to acquire joy from the suc­cesses of your kids or the quality of your parenting? All of these can only bring joy when they are soaked in the waters that flow from the Well­spring of Joy himself. When our ultimate delight and treasure is Jesus, then our spouse, our kids, our job can bring actual joy because they are not being worshiped.

Let the Advent season usher you to the feet of Jesus.

PRAYER:

Lord, we repent of trying to first delight in things other than you and then try­ing to fit you into what little time and energy we have left. In this Advent season, allow us to slow our lives and our desires to find rest and ultimate joy in you and you alone. Satisfy our deepest longings for approval and significance that we so easily look to find in other things or people. Make our joy full.