May 7, 2020

Good afternoon.

"  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. 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!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “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.”  Luke 10:38-42

This is the classic dilemma in following Jesus. Do we work hard, or do we sit and experience the presence of the living Christ ? Jesus says that Mary has chosen the better way, but not the only way. As some will say, that if we all just sat around and reflected on the words of Jesus, the world would be a lesser place. Who would show compassion ? Who would drive cancer patients ? Who would make casseroles ? Who would build churches in Guatemala ? And who would wash the dishes ? These are not just female questions, but they are questions of men as well. You know, Jesus healed people, he did work, and on the Sabbath nonetheless !

I am not a practical person. I cannot fix a car ( or a tractor ). I do not do home repairs very well. I can hardly change a light bulb. I am an okay gardener ( I take pictures of flowers ), but I am not a Martha. I am the farthest thing from a Martha in this world, but I do not feel more faithful as a Mary. We have many different gifts that make of the community of faith, and the Kingdom of God. But, I do wash dishes.

Mary and Martha grieve the death of their brother Lazarus, and then celebrate his resurrection. Mary ( according to John ) anoints Jesus for his death . Both Martha and Mary are complex people. We are not just one-sided people of God. We have gifts of action and reflection. What gifts has God given to you, and to our community ? What would it mean for you to go from actions of Jesus faith, to reflections on faith in Jesus ?

Poem from Gerald Manley Hopkins

( Hopkins was an English poet and Jesuit priest from England in the 1800's )

“To lift up the hands in prayer gives God glory,

 but a man with a dungfork in his hand, a woman with a slop pail, give Him glory, too.

God is so great that all things give Him glory if you mean that they should.”

  AMEN