Business

From Henry’s Desk

 

“ … who moreover was listening …”

(Lk 10:39)

 

 

Poor Martha, forever negatively contrasted with her sister Mary.  And for what?  She was only doing what she was gifted to do!  Many times she had provided hospitality for Jesus and His companions.  She even had a knack for it!  Everyone knew she had the gift of hospitality, she was quite well known for it!  Why, she was the one who kept the house running.  If it wasn’t for her nothing would ever have gotten done.

 

And that Mary, what a dreamer!  She was always sitting around thinking and dreaming, as if that was productive!  And always wanted to be interacting with the guests instead of helping prepare for their needs.  If she was just more like her sister Martha, she would be doing the stuff that needed to be done instead of just sitting around wasting time and being lazy.

 

And Jesus, what was He thinking!  Couldn’t he see that there was a lot that needed to be done, and Mary wasn’t helping.  She was just sitting there listening to the conversation, while Martha was trying to do it all by herself.  And can you believe that Martha is the one that got into trouble instead of Mary!  He told Martha that she was distracted!  It looked to me like Mary was the one distracted, after all she was just sitting there listening.

 

I wish I had time to just sit around and listen, but who has time?  There is too much that needs to be done, and if I don’t do it, it won’t get done!  Why Martha wasn’t any more distracted than I am.  She was busy, productive, and energetic!  There was a lot that needed to be done and she was doing it!  There is always stuff that needs to be done, who has time to sit down?  Why, I have so much to do that I don’t even know how I’m going to get it all done, where is Mary anyway?  She ought to be helping me!

 

"The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it.”  (Mk 4:18-19, MSG)