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38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 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!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42 New International Version Bible)
A blessed and happy Monday to you, dear Friend. I pray this finds you well and enjoying God's blessings on your life. I pray that your weekend allowed you time for spending with God, your loved ones, and with whatever else merits your attention. I pray all is well with your health and the health of your family. Let us pray for one another, pray for those needs shared with us as well as the needs of our homes, our communities, our state and our nation. Let us seek to glorify God in all ways.
As I was growing up, it was during a time, and quite possibly a place, where if someone came over to visit you, you would welcome them, and you would immediately ask if your guests had eaten, and some, even if the guests said they had eaten, they would begin at one to fix something to eat. Usually, we kids were instructed that the proper response was always, "Yes, we've already eaten!" And this even in the presence of the most delicious food that the hosts had prepared for themselves! I suspect this custom came from the very place this passage take us; a small village where a kind woman has opened her home to Jesus and His disciples, and Martha, perhaps the older of the sisters, begins to prepare a meal for Jesus and the Twelve. Mary, who perhaps had heard about Jesus, sits at the feet of Jesus listening to what He had to say. She knew that this special man, had words of life, and the very word of God and it was a blessing to her to hear them. Martha soon notices that she is now doing all the preparations by herself and comes to Jesus and asks, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" Yikes. She's serious about this arrangement not working out, for her. Jesus lovingly responds, "Martha, Martha, 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."
Perhaps not what Martha wanted to hear, but it was certainly what she needed to hear. Mary had indeed chosen what was truly needed in her life; that of hearing the fullness of life. The work of the house would be there long after Jesus would leave; but He was already on the path of His life, which would involved His death on a cross. And He knew this; Mary and Martha did not, but one of them was drawn to Him and His mission. Mary had zeroed in on the essential part; the love God had for her, and her sister. Both sisters paid attention, but not to the same thing. Jesus identifies that interaction as "better, and it will not be taken away from her." She made a choice for her life and it was an eternal choice. Martha did make a responsible choice, but it was temporal. And you and I sometimes have to make decisions and do we know which are temporal and which are eternal? I pray we do!
PRAYER: Loving God, open our hearts, minds, and spirits to see what truly blesses You and Your kingdom. May we always choose the eternal over the temporal. In Christ Jesus' strong name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Find someone to discuss some of the choices you've made lately and which have been temporal and which have been eternal.
Receive my blessings of peace and wisdom,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
