Proper 11

Preparation

Please begin by reading Luke 10:38-42 in your Bible. If you do not have one at hand, we have provided that text for you at the end of this reflection.

Reflection--Is There A Polarity Imbalance In Your Life?

Today’s text reminds us of the complexity of human nature and how seemingly opposite characteristics must be integrated in order to grow emotionally and spiritually.

    In this story, Luke presents the story of Martha and Mary as representing two extremes of activity. Martha is what we would call a classic “A” personality, a “doing person” with anxiety and resentment over having to carry the burden of getting the meal prepared while her sister, Mary, is content to just “be” and apparently presents a calm presence.

    Mary apparently considered it only important to sit at the feet of the great teacher and learn from him, either oblivious too or uncaring about all of the frantic work being done by her sister, Martha.

    Martha is so busy working that she cannot stop and absorb Christ’s presence fully. She is too busy with the tasks of daily living and the urgency of ensuring that the meal is properly prepared and most likely that it is served in a timely manner to take time and absorb some of the teaching going on around her.

    What we notice about Mary is that while she can be present to absorb the teachings of Christ, her lack of sensitivity to the daily tasks or special requirements of preparing the meal makes one question whether she could live independently. She seems to live in a dream world, oblivious to the daily tasks around her.

    After all, if one had to choose between Mary and Martha to ensure your daily living was accomplished to include all of the daily tasks, who would you choose?

    We are often the same as either Mary or Martha. How many times have we found ourselves forced to choose between the spiritual side of our self, allowing time for contemplation and prayer and just being in the presence of God, and the more practical realistic needs of daily living. Can we be in a spiritual place without allowing our concerns and “must do” list to clog our mind?

    Or does the more practical, realistic side that struggles to make enough money to provide for our essentials consume us? Do we find that just living fills our daily life with so much activity that we find ourselves emotionally drained and ill.

    How often have we said, “Oh, if I only had “X” amount of money, I could quit this job that I hate and do “Y”, which I know is where my true love and desire is?

    How often do we find ourselves saying, “only five or ten or fifteen more years and I can retire and do what I really want to do or what I feel God may want me to do?

    Are we so caught up in doing the many things of life, similar to Martha in today’s text that we miss out on receiving the portion or serving intended for us by God?

    As our story tells, both Martha and Mary represent two extremes of activity and each greets and approaches serving Christ in opposite yet equally sincere ways. Yet neither of them is complete, they lack balance in their respective lives.

    Martha type energy dominates many of us. We are a nation of workaholics who often accept an eighty-hour work week as necessary to earn a decent income, advance in career and/or keep up with the neighbors. We often forget why we chose to accept a particular job or what our goals were before we entered the work force. We work until we drop and then go back the next day for more. Often, ill health or feeling as if we are drying up spiritually on the inside is our reward.

    The lesson for us in today’s text is to bring our lives into balance. We need to create a healthy synthesis of both extremes. In so doing we will find inner peace, more joy in living and better health.
Maw Barker

Thanks to "Maw Barker" for this week's reflection. "Maw Barker" is the pen name of the Rev. Gail Hicks, Pastoral Assistant at M.C.C. Washington, DC. Her pen name reflects her great love for dogs.

revclay

Now as they went on their way, [Jesus] entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me."

But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."

[NRSV]