First Read Luke 10:38-42
"Work" - Meredith Stewart
We turn our hearts away from work.
We do not make trees grow the hard green fruit that reddens into food.
The rain of God’s favor falls on those who work, and those who sleep, and those who sit at Jesus’s feet feasting on what is better.
We turn our hearts away from work, from nailing beams and plastering walls. We may huddle in our houses, warm for awhile, but we still long for what is better.
We turn our hearts away from work, from the slicing of bread, the sizzling pan, the so good soup, filling our stomachs.
We choose Jesus, which is better.
We choose Jesus, easy-yoked God-flesh.
The source of all goodness, rain and food.
We do not have to work to sit at his feet, and he will not be taken away.
Reflections
Picture in your mind the dynamics of this passage.
Ask yourself, in that kind of situation whose side you would be on. Would you side with Mary, who is taking it easy at the feet of Jesus? Or would you side with Martha, who seems to have a real awareness when it’s time to work and time to get things done?
Who does Jesus identify with in this passage? Why? Why do you think Martha chose the way she did? Why do you think Mary chose the way she did?
What is interfering with your relationship with Jesus? Take a moment and read Psalm 73:23-28. Confess those things that drag you away from relationship with Christ.
Turn from those things and turn your face toward Christ.