July 17, 2022 6th Sunday After Pentecost

Luke 10:38-42  (The Message)

38-40 As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.”

41-42 The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.”

There are times to be like Martha; organized, efficient, concerned about the basics. There are times to be like Mary; spontaneous, free, flowing with.

The struggle is to find the balance between the two, as Martha had difficulty with in our text.

The problem with Martha is not all her good work, but that she is too busy to experience the moment and savor the specialness of what is happening.  She is distracted by her concern for order and efficiency.

This can be how we miss God present in our lives - by being too busy. By being distracted.

“We...need to practice the ‘art of no agenda’ - to live in such a way that we begin to respond to the rhythms of life around us rather than control or initiate all of them.  We must, in prayer, seek to be open to and content with whatever the days brings.  We must allow ourselves to be ‘interrupted’ for God visits in interruptions.”  

Take time to listen for the still small voice of God.  Be quiet and sit at the feet of Jesus; take time to do nothing.

”The question that must guide  

all organizing activity in a parish 

(and in a family) is not how 

to keep people busy, but how

 to keep them from being so busy 

that they can no longer hear the 

voice of God who speaks in silence.”  

Henri Nouwen,

Prayer thought for the week:  “Lord, help me to slow down, take a deep breath, and hear your voice in the “sound of silence”.