A Daily Devotion for Monday, August 24

Luke 10:38-42

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.”

This story never fails to get me a little bit worked up. It is hard for me to read without thinking, “Yes, but…” If both Martha and Mary had sat down with Jesus and the other guests, they both would have been criticized when it was discovered there was no food or drink prepared. And for such an important and interesting guest, it would have seemed doubly wrong! I think that her mistake was in complaining to Jesus, and asking him to intervene. I wonder if her choice to serve would have been criticized if she had not interrupted Jesus. If she had chosen to honor all of her guests by preparing food, but had been willing to do this by herself, as her own choice, would this have also been seen as “what is better”? For me, it is not a story that offers an obvious right or wrong, even with Jesus’ words included.

Holy Lord, help me to be able to see the better choice, when I am confused. But just as importantly, help me to see that my choices are just that, my choices, and they do not include other people, who are free to make their own. When it comes to serving you, Lord, help me to see my way clearly, to make choices which honor you. Amen

Becky, transforming.