Jeremy L. Berg

The following is from Jack’s Blog. This is a timely passage to meditate on during the busy holiday season. -JB

SCRIPTURE: “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  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!” She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. The Lord answered, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things.  One thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part. It won’t be taken away from her.” {Luke 10:38-42, CEB}

QUOTE:  It is not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, ‘What are we busy about?’–Henry David Thoreau

THOUGHT: Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of nonessentials.

COMMENTARY: When someone repeats your name as Jesus did with Martha, it generally means that you need to stop and think. Martha was so busy that she had not taken time to think. First of all, you do not give Jesus instructions…”Tell my sister to help me.” We just don’t tell God what to do; obviously Martha was not thinking. Secondly, Martha was distracted about many things. She lacked the power to focus. Meditation, contemplation, solitude, prayer–all these things help us clear our minds so we can focus on the One thing that is most important instead of being occupied by a multitude of things that mean nothing. Thirdly, Martha’s haste, her business kept her from knowing, being aware of what Jesus really wanted. Martha pretense was to please Jesus but she was actually doing as she pleased. In truth, she had not taken the time to see what Jesus wanted most. Jesus had Mary’s undivided attention and He wanted Martha’s also. Have you ever given anyone your undivided attention lately? It is a precious gift.

Jeremy’s comments: As I meditated on this story, I realized that we ought to at least give Martha some credit. At least Martha invited Jesus into her home!  Many people never get that far in their faith — never inviting Jesus into their lives. But Jesus doesn’t merely want to be allowed a convenient corner in our life while we continue focusing on other matters. He wants to commune with us like he did with Mary, to share an intimate one-to-one friendship in the Spirit. The sad fact is that Martha had the Living God inside her own home, but was too busy in the other room to enjoy Him…..

Take some time this evening to reflect on the shocking reality that Jesus’ Spirit dwells among us still.  He is in our home, only a prayer away. Let us not let this divine presence go unnoticed as we busy ourselves with other stuff.