Today’s gathering invited us to pause from our busyness and reflect on the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. In a world that constantly pulls us in many directions, it’s easy to identify with Martha—distracted, worried, and feeling the weight of responsibility. Yet, Jesus gently redirects Martha, and us, to the “one thing needed”: being present to Him. This is not a condemnation of service or action, but a call to examine the state of our hearts as we serve. Are we motivated by love and presence, or by anxiety and a need for recognition?
Hospitality, a central virtue in our faith, is not just about doing for others, but about how we hold space for Christ and one another. Martha’s mistake was not her service, but her shift in focus—from welcoming Jesus to centering her own frustrations. We, too, can fall into this trap, making our acts of service about ourselves rather than about Christ or those we serve.
Through a story of a silent retreat gone awry, we saw how our judgments and expectations can blind us to the needs and stories of those around us. True community and true hospitality require us to look beyond our own discomfort and preferences, to see others as Christ sees them, and to recognize that everyone is carrying unseen burdens. When we do this, we discover that the “wrong” community is often the perfect one for our growth, revealing our own hearts and teaching us compassion.
The artwork on today’s bulletin captured this tension: Mary reaching for Jesus in faith, Martha reaching for Mary in service, and Jesus embodying both. We are not called to choose between being and doing, but to integrate both—faith and works, contemplation and action. When our service flows from presence with Christ, loving and serving become one seamless act.
As we go forth, may we remember that Christ has no body now on earth but ours. Our hands, our feet, our eyes are the means by which His compassion and blessing reach the world. Let us choose the better part: to be present to Christ in all we do, and to let our loving service become an act of worship.
Luke 10:38-42 (ESV) — Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
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