Pentecost 8 Luke 10:38-42 Sit at the Feet of Jesus
Genesis 18:1-10a Colossians 1:21-29 Luke 10:38-42
When I was growing up, one of the things I fondly remember was the Judge family reunions. Every year my grandparents had the reunion at their home. They had a large yard, plenty of parking and took it upon themselves to host the reunion. They would work hard for weeks in preparation, cooking sausage and peppers for hours, and meatballs would simmer for about a week so that all of the spices would blend completely. Although it took them a lot of time and hard work, the food was always delicious their and hard work would always make the reunions wonderful!
However, while the rest of us visited, played games and ate, they would continue working and would only pop outside to bring fresh cut watermelon, potato salads or desserts. Every year people offered to help but the usual response was to be chased out of the kitchen. “Go, enjoy the family,” they would say. As you might expect, by the end of the day, my grandparents were exhausted. But each year, the event went off without a hitch.
The year after my grandfather died, my aunts and uncles took over sponsoring the family reunion. The reunion would still be held at the same place, but it was no longer prepared by just two people. Instead, everyone would pitch in. Each family would make their favorite dish and bring it along in crock pots or take their treats into the kitchen and put it in the refrigerator. Almost everyone would show up early and lend a helping hand.
Everyone, including my grandmother had time to visit, to catch up on what was happening with the rest of their family and enjoy their time together. She thought it was wonderful to be able to sit and visit rather than being in the heat of the kitchen all day! She realized that the meals still needed to be prepared, but they were not the most important thing going on at the reunion.
Family reunions are important because through conversations, old stories are remembered, new ones are shared, and relationships are strengthened. Reunions are about taking time to renew family ties and to enjoy each other. All the good food is secondary, it takes a back seat to everything else we enjoyed a family.
When I think back to those times, I realize that I never got to know my grandfather all that well, because he was always so busy, even at our family reunions. My grandfather missed out on that one important thing, the one thing needed not only by him, but by his entire family.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is traveling on His mission to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal. He enters into a village and Martha welcomes Him into her home. You can imagine her excitement, wanting to hear the latest news from Jesus about His travels, His ministry, His teaching and just plain catching up with each other since His last visit. So Martha welcomes Jesus into their home and sets about the task of being a hostess.
Martha wants everything to be just right for her special guest and who can blame her? The Kingdom of heaven is near and Jesus has come into her home. There is so much to be done and Martha really hasn’t prepared a lot ahead of time. She has big plans, but little time, and she is getting frantic. And in her hustle and bustle, Martha sees her sister Mary just sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to His every word. Martha is burdened with one type of hospitality; making sure everything is perfect for her Lord. Mary is absorbed in another; allowing her guest to tell the good news about the kingdom.
Martha wants Jesus to condemn Mary; there were things that needed to be taken care of and she wasn’t helping take care of them. Out of frustration, she complains to Jesus. “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
To Martha’s surprise, Jesus answered, “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.” Our Lord’s message is clear; ‘Do not be so distracted and concerned about doing good that you neglect what is most important; that is to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear the word of God.’
Martha had lost her focus. Here was the Messiah, delivering His message for their eternal hope, and she was concerned about the food. The issue at hand is whether one is to first serve the Lord or first be served by Him.
Mary has it correct. The one thing that is necessary is the gift that Jesus has come to bring and that gift is the word of God which leads to eternal life. Instead of trying to serve Jesus first, she allows Jesus to first serve her with His gifts. Her hospitality to the Lord is shown by her patient and carefully listening to her Lord and accepting His gifts where Jesus is. After she has received His gifts, then there will be time for her response through the work that she does.
Martha however, made the mistake of thinking that she was the host and Jesus was the guest.
We have many today like Martha. They tell me, “Pastor, we know we should be attending church and we would really like to come but we just have too many things going on.” Some day, when things slow down, we will start worshiping again, but we can’t right now.”
To make matters worse, like Martha, they want to pull their family away from the feet of Jesus and get other things accomplished. So they remain worried and upset about many things in this life while putting off the thing that is most important; their eternal salvation. The one thing needed, the better part that is yet to come is here now but they refuse to take the time out to listen.
Time passes so quickly and before you know it we will stand before God. Some will tell Him they had great intentions, but just did not have time to receive His gifts through worship. To those, He will say, “I never knew you.” (Matthew 7:23)
Jesus states that the better part of this life revolves around the reunion of friends and family who get together and hear the words of eternal life. Jesus invites you be like Mary, to choose the better part, to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear that God has chosen you through the work of His Son Jesus Christ.
When you hear the word of God you hear the Good News that God has declared you righteous. There is nothing that you can do that will improve on what Christ has already done for you. Your worship then is a place where you please God by hearing about His Son. It becomes a family reunion that builds fellowship and friendship with your Father in heaven and with one another. Jesus said, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)
Worship is not to be found in the busyness of human doing, but in the stillness of listening to the words of Jesus in faith. Psalm 46 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Knowing God through listening to His word and believing in the work of His Son is the most important thing. And Faith in Jesus is the highest form of worship.
When God appears to the faithful, He brings gifts. When the Trinity appeared before Abraham, God brought the gift of life to him and Sarah in their son Isaac. God appears into your world bringing the gift of eternal life to you through the work of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus gives you His forgiveness in the water and words of Baptism. Then He gives us His very body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins.
The one thing needed to enter into heaven will not be taken away from those of you who know Him. And what a glorious family reunion that will be for you who took the time to sit at His feet and to know Him as your Lord and Savior.
In Jesus name, Amen.