Luke 10:38-42
At the Home of Martha and Mary
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 only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Busyness seems to hearken at me, and I do not know why...I am retired and yet, my mind wants things to be on a schedule each and everyday...My thoughts tells me I need to do something each day that is useful...But what is useful...A day for me seems the need to be organized and mostly full, at least that is what my thoughts are telling me...So when I read about Martha and Mary I fully understand Martha's position...And I believed this after reading the Mary and Martha story many times years ago...I could see Martha's stress as one who was hosting a get together and wanting everything ready for her guests...Who would want a household of guests to come in and not have anything ready?...
Today when I read the story of the two sisters and the need for Martha to get all things done before the guests arrive, I have a different position...The Word of God is very important...And Jesus is speaking for God...So, as Mary listens to Jesus she is hearing the Word of God, and sharing personal time with Jesus...And we know and He certainly knew that His days on earth were numbered by the cross...
Mary was listening to the Greatest Teacher ever to walk the earth while Martha stayed busy working...She was listening to some of the Greatest Teachings she would ever hear, and she was one on One with the Great Teacher...
Maybe schedules and busyness is not as useful as other things in life...Are we loving God and neighbor more or better with what we are doing...So while we are keeping constantly busy for different reasons, we might ask ourselves -does our busyness bring us closer to Jesus, to love, to beauty, to patience, to our faithfulness, and to the Great Spiritual Wonderment in our lives...Mary chose what was better than Martha had and Jesus said He would not change that...