38 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
I have a lot of sympathy for Martha, largely because I see a lot of her in me. And I don’t think I’m alone. Women are often the ones hosting events and planning and preparing for others to have a meaningful experience of some kind. We create spaces for people to sit at the Lord’s feet, but often that means tending to work others don’t notice. Like Martha, most of us are prone to become distracted by the many responsibilities that come with life. And like Martha, we can also become frustrated and resentful when others don’t seem to carry the same weight we bear.
Martha seems to get confused on her priorities in this Gospel account, but one thing she does get right– she brings her concerns to Jesus. She doesn’t stuff down her feelings or put on a fake smile. She lets Jesus know how she’s feeling, even if it does come across a bit abrasive and demanding. (I have a sister, and from experience, I’m pretty sure Martha and Mary exchanged some words after this.)
Jesus doesn’t chastise her or shame her, but He does lovingly correct her. Jesus reminds her that she too could have what Mary was experiencing. She too, could sit at Jesus’ feet. Instead of her daily life being marked by worry and frustration, it could be grounded in simply being with, listening to and learning from Jesus. This is the better choice, and it’s something that can never be taken away.
Today, will you make the better choice? Yes, there are things to get done. There are preparations to be made, and the work may even feel overwhelming. You may feel like you aren’t getting the support you need or the help you deserve. Even still, can you choose the better thing? Can you step away from the to-do list and the text messages and the emails, and can you sit at the feet of Jesus? Can you pray and listen for His voice? Can you read your Bible and just sit with the text for a while? Can you be with Jesus for the sole purpose of learning from Him? He has so much to show you and teach you, and this type of discipleship can never be taken away from you.
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