Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.
St. Luke 10: 38-42
One Thing
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 11C, 21 July 2013
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming
For a Lay Reader
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son, and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.
It seems there’s always something that needs to be done.
Dishes need to be washed—even loading and unloading the dishwasher can become a
chore. The lawn always needs mowed. Bedrooms get messy. Laundry piles up.
Children and families need fed. The house needs painting. During the school
year, homework and long-term projects pile up. The refrigerator and pantry need
restocking. The kids need to be taken where, again? You don’t need a
day-planner to realize you have busy schedules. Or is it that our schedules
have us, dragging us around from one activity to another?
We like to
think that we do all of these things for a reason. We work hard at home or
outside of the home to care for our spouse, our children, our future. We do it
out of love. But do we spend time with the ones we love? We do all of these
things for them. Do we make time to be with them? The fact that
we’re showing our love for them by our service sometimes gets lost in the fact
that we’re doing one more thing on a very important list.
Yes, these
things are important. But just how important are they compared to the one thing
that is needed? Luke chapter 10 helps to give us important perspective on our
busy lives.
38 As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to
a certain village where a certain woman named Martha opened her home to
Him.
This lesson is connected to the one just before it. We
remember the hospitality showed by the Good Samaritan. Martha is showing
hospitality to Jesus and His disciples. This is a good thing. Martha is a good
person. Hospitality is important.
What is
remarkable here is how unusual it would be for a Jewish woman to welcome a
rabbi like Jesus into her home, or for Him to accept. This is only the first of
several surprises Jesus has for us today.
39 [Martha] She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the
Lord’s feet listening to what He said.
For a rabbi to come into a woman’s house and teach her
specifically is unheard of, equally remarkable to Martha’s welcome. When it
comes to salvation, one’s personal value, and Jesus’ concern, in Christ there
is no Jew or Greek, male or female.
Mary was listening. It would be accurate to say that she
kept on hearing His message. She began listening, and she continues listening.
One can never hear too much of Jesus! Martha was elsewhere.
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!”
“Distracted” is a very kind explanation of what is happening
to Martha. What a contrast! Mary kept on hearing. Martha kept on being
pulled around, dragged around by much service. Can you identify? It is that she
feels obligated? Wants to make a good impression? Show up her sister?
Martha finally had enough. She stood and said to Jesus, “It is
a concern to you that my sister has abandoned me to serve you alone, isn’t
it?” Her question expects Jesus to answer, “Yes.” “Jesus, 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.”
Martha, Martha. I’m not going to tell Mary here to abandon
the most important thing in order to help you. Wouldn’t you rather be sitting
at my feet as well? Come to Me, Martha, you who are weary and burdened, and I
will give you rest.
Martha is burdened, in need of rest. She is in the midst of
tumult. She has been disturbed. Yes, her
labor in hospitality was important. How important was it in the eternal scope
of things?
Of one thing there is need. Only one thing is needed. Only
one thing is most important, Jesus’ Word, His Gospel. Mary chose the good
portion, which will not be taken away from her.
Jesus’ answer to Martha is unexpected. It’s surprising to
us, too, if we really think about it. Jesus invites us to put first things
first. It is an invitation to not give up service, but to first ask ourselves,
“What is the one thing needful?”
What is the one thing needful? God’s Word, especially His
Gospel that gives us calm in the midst of a hectic life. It is an island of
peace far away from the anxiety-laden mainland. The Gospel is rest for
sleepless nights. Christ is life in the midst of a culture of death. His Word
creates a reality of hope. His Word re-creates each one of us. His Gospel
forgives, gives a fresh start. God’s gift is bigger than expected. It keeps on
giving. We need to keep on hearing that. We should keep on listening.
Instead, we
spend most of our time doing, even when it comes to doing things for Immanuel.
We like to think that we do all of these things in or around church for a
reason. We word hard in service to the Lord. We do it out of love. But do we
spend time with the One we love? We do all of these things for Him. Do we make
time to be with Him? The fact that we’re showing our love for the Lord by our
service sometimes gets lost in the fact that we’re doing one more thing on a
very important list.
How many times does your joyful service to the Lord lose its
joy because it has just become one more thing to do? We have become so busy, we
think, that we have no time for individual or group Bible Study.
All of our service to the Lord is important, cleaning,
repairing, visiting, being in LWML, serving as a congregational officer, doing
a youth group service project—all that is important. First, let us focus
on the one thing needful.
In the next chapter of Luke, Jesus says, “Blessed are those
who hear the Word of God and obey it.” Luke 11:28. You cannot obey the Word if
you do not hear it first. To be a disciple is to be a learner. Jesus taught us
that disciples are made by means of baptizing and teaching. Those of you who
have been baptized are continually taught. Confirmation is not a graduation,
where you are never expected to be seen again. Far from it! Mary of Bethany
helped give us some good perspective. We thank God for her example and her
faith.
Mary kept on hearing. Let us keep on hearing. Hearing the
Word of God creates and nourishes faith. Romans 10:17. Faith comes from hearing
the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ. Faith can
starve without sustenance. Faith needs to be fed. Faith yearns to receive what
the Lord gives. We keep on hearing. God keeps on giving His Gifts.
Faith believes. Faith trusts. The one who gives and nurtures
faith can get us thorough difficult times in our lives. It is the times when we
are most harried, most stressed, most at the end of our rope when we need what
the Lord gives: forgiveness, peace, hope, and trust in Him.
Faith acts. We believe, upon the basis of the Word, that we
are saved by grace alone through faith alone. Faith is never alone. Faith wants
to act, to do, to serve, to love. Living in the freedom of the Gospel, faith
rejoices in God’s Gift of salvation and serves Him by serving those around us,
family, friends, neighbors.
The Word of God cannot be obeyed if it isn’t heard first.
Hearing creates faith. Faith believes, trusts. Faith acts. We can’t get the
cart in front of the horse.
Often, the cart is in front of the horse when it comes to
worship. Most Christian traditions take the Martha approach to Christian
worship. Even the English word, “worship,” reflects this understanding. The
most important thing in worship, for them, is what the people do. Worthiness,
repute, respect, reverence, etc. is to be paid to God. We pray, we praise, we
give offerings, we give thanks. The focus is upon human action. You may hear
statements like these. I decided to follow Jesus. We remember Jesus in the sacrament.
I’m giving a full tithe today. Look at the good thing I’m doing by being
baptized!
In contrast, the Word invites us to worship along the lines
of Mary, humbly sitting at Jesus’ feet, continually listening to Him. God’s
loving action comes first. We receive, we are acted upon, graciously. The
Divine serves us in the Divine Service.
Our Lord speaks and we listen. His Word bestows what it
says. Faith that is born from what is heard acknowledges the Gifts received
with eager thankfulness and praise. Music is drawn into this thankfulness and
praise, enlarging and elevating the adoration of our gracious giver God.
Saying back to Him what He has said to us, we repeat what is
most true and sure. We rejoice in His Word and our hearing of it, the one thing
needful. He gives absolution and peace, He baptizes, He remembers us in the
sacrament and gives Christ’s Body and Blood for you for the forgiveness of
sins. Secondarily, He welcomes cheerful giving, as well as prayer, praise, and
thanksgiving.
Keep on hearing the Word. Talk to Pastor about beneficial
resources you can use in your personal or family time in the Word. Start
small—five, ten, fifteen minutes a day. There is no better quality time with
the Lord, your spouse, your children, or your parents. Join us for Sunday School
or Adult Bible Class on Sundays now and during the week this fall. Come to
adult information class, even as a review! Ask your questions. Usually, someone
else has the same question, but just didn’t feel like asking.
Your time with the Lord in His Word is precious to Him, and
will become valued time to you, as well. We speak to Him in prayer. He speaks
to us in the Word. His Word can also shape and inform our prayers, teaching us
to pray as children learn to speak, children sitting at the feet of their
loving Heavenly Father.
About the Cover: What quiet serenity surrounds a
well-worn Bible! It speaks of time well spent at the feet of the Savior. We can
get so distracted by doing things “for the Lord” that we forget to be
with the Lord. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). The Lord
invites us to spend time with Him. This is the one necessary thing, the living
Word that alone gives us eternal life.
Only one thing is needed, to sit at Jesus’ feet and keep on
listening. This is better, and it will not be taken away from you. Amen.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son, and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.
