July 2025… We are busy, and then we are busy, and when we finish being busy, we are busy. When does it stop? And where is God in the midst of it all? When do we bring Him into this picture? How do we let Him know that there is a place in our life for Him?
Perhaps it is time to take another look at Mary, Martha’s sister – the same sister who left her in the kitchen cooking and preparing for their visitor, Jesus. This is the same Mary who decided that enough was enough – no intentions in bailing on Martha, but after all, Jesus was in the house.
Let us recall the story in Luke (10:38-42). Jesus comes to the door, and Martha, the owner of the house, lets him in. Martha then goes to work in the kitchen. Mary takes a seat at Jesus’ feet and listens intently to his teachings. Martha complains and asks Jesus to make Mary come help her. Jesus speaks a line that resonates deeply and has taken a permanent place in our very souls. Jesus says: Martha, Martha…Mary has chosen what is better… (42). Jesus knows that Martha does not mean to neglect Him, that she is just trying to take care of Him; but Jesus also knows what Martha would receive if she only took the time to sit with Him.
Twenty-First Century Martha, if you are reading this, know that you are in the company of many, this writer at the front of the line. And at this point, I need to make this my story.
Jesus told me clearly (personally) that He would knock at the door (remember Martha letting Him in), and if I opened it, He will come in and sup with me, and I with Him (Rev. 3:20). What a promise! I relish it! I take comfort in it! This is a standing invitation to peace, love, joy, understanding, and an abundance of blessings. But what’s wrong here? Why am I not at Jesus’ feet every minute that I can be there? Rather, for me, why am I not sitting on the sofa, in my living room, talking with Jesus more often and for longer periods of time?
Jesus usually gets to my house around 7:00 every morning. I open the door, let Him in, greet Him, and usher Him to the sofa. Jesus is ready to sup with me, no doubt. The question is, am I ready to sup with Him? I would be if the dishes did not need to be washed before I leave for the day. I could be if that phone call had not come just as I was about to speak. I might have been if that Zoom meeting had not been scheduled so early. True, many times, I am there with My Blessed Visitor, and what a precious, healing time it is. We sup, one with another, and I am refreshed and wiser than I was when He arrived.
About those other times, when I am caught up in what I will call the Martha Syndrome – doing for Him rather than being with Him. What about those times that I run out the door and leave Jesus sitting there on my sofa, waiting to answer a question for me, pour down a blessing, or sweetly whisper a word of healing just for me. Frankly and honestly, I miss out. I spend the day struggling with what I would not have had to struggle, puzzling with what could have been solved, causing Jesus, the Lover of My Soul, to chase after me, throwing kisses at my back, when He would rather place them on my soul. What a sad testimony to my treatment of my Jesus.
He waits. He watches me doing, and doing, and doing, and He waits. At the end of it all, when I get home from a busy, hectic day, there is Jesus, still sitting on my sofa. There is no angry glare or accusing words. He simply says, “How was your day?” Tired and tearful, I sit, lay my head onto His Eternal Shoulder, take a deep breath, exhale, and say nothing. He says it all. I am revived. In my heart and spirit, I promise to treat myself to this blessed and fulfilling supper whenever Jesus pays a visit. I am choosing what is better.
