Daily Devotions

One of the more homely settings where Jesus found solace and compassion was with his friends in Bethany at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. One such visit was when Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. He knew what fate awaited him there, and he needed a time of quiet with his friends. Mary sensed this, but Martha, God bless her, wanted to be kind to Jesus in her own way, which meant fussing over a meal.

Jesus, in his inimitable way even used this congenial setting  to teach the essence of the kingdom. In Luke we read of Martha complaining about Mary with the words, “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.”

I wonder when you read the story of Martha and Mary, do you spontaneously take sides, or at least, identify with one rather than the other?

If so, can we now ask for the grace to see the beauty and value of the other one? If we find ourselves resisting and wanting to stick with my own preference, we might have to try a little harder. The Lord is often trying to tell us things at the point where we resist.

Even now we can ask ourselves these questions. We can ask ourselves where our attention is. We can ask, “In what way, and to what things, do I make my senses available?” The story of Martha and Mary is a timeless illustration because, as far as being human is concerned, it is presenting us with a timeless question.

The question is not merely, “How are we using our time?”; but It is also this: “How deep are we letting our time be?”

Lord of all pots and pans and things,

Since I’ve no time to be

A saint by doing lovely things or

Watching late with thee,

Or dreaming in the twilight or

Storming heaven’s gates.

Make me a saint by getting meals or

Washing up the plates.

Although I must have Martha’s hands,

I have Mary’s mind, and,

When I black the boots and shoes

Thy sandals, Lord, I find.

I think of how they trod the earth

What time I scrub the floor,

Accept this meditation, Lord,

I haven’t time for more.

Warm all the kitchen with thy love,

And light it with thy peace,

Forgive me all my worrying

And make all grumbling cease.

Thou who didst love to give men food

In room or by the sea

Accept this service that I do

I do it unto thee. Amen