Sunday, July 25, 2004
Sunday, July 25, 2004
If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
(Romans 10.9
NRSV)
Jesus must have arrived early. (Don't you just hate it when people arrive early? Here you are, making last minute preparations. You're still in your grubbies giving that floor a last vacuuming, when the doorbell rings. There are your guests! You had just enough time for a quick shower and change of clothes. So much for those plans. You chastise yourself and say: "I knew I should have started earlier.")
Whether Jesus arrived early or not, suffice it to say that there were more things to be done. Martha was working feverishly. Mary was working feverishly, too. But when Jesus arrives, all of Mary's activity stops as she visits with and listens to him.
Meanwhile, Martha's in the kitchen finishing up the meal. "When is that girl going to get in here and help me finish up?" she huffs. The pots and pans and slamming doors get louder and louder. That doesn't work. So, finally Martha can't stand it anymore. She bursts into the living room, hands on her hips, her face flushed with anger, as she blurts out these words to Jesus:
"Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me!" I picture Jesus responding with a loving smile, as he says to her: "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her."
Can't you just empathize with Martha here? Shocked. Embarrassed. What was she supposed to do, let the casserole burn in the oven?
If we don't know the rest of the story, we may assume that Martha had quite a shallow faith and that Mary had all the spiritual depth. Not so! Recall when Lazarus died? They had sent for Jesus several days before. When he finally comes, Martha hurries to him while Mary stays home. "If you had been here," she says to Jesus, "my brother would not have died." No recrimination. Just simple trust. "I know even now," she goes on, "that God will give you whatever you ask of Him!" Notice that Martha did not say, "I hope" or "I think," but she said, "I know"! In spite of her sorrow, she exclaims: "I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God who was to come into the world!"
What a confession of faith!
Loving God, in all of my “to do” tasks, may I confess my faith in you. Amen.
