Grace Notes June 16. 2010

Luke 10: 38-42

38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where
a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called
Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But 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, 42but only one thing is needed.[f] Mary has chosen what is
better, and it will not be taken away from her."

While my cousin Gunilla from Sweden was our houseguest for 2 weeks
recently, I found myself constantly struggling with a “Mary and Martha”
syndrome. We had been preparing the house and yard for a month ahead to
make everything clean, attractive, and pleasant. With our sons grown, our
basement is like an apartment and she would have plenty of room and some
privacy. She had told us not to fuss and that she would “go with the
flow”. Nonetheless I wanted things just right.

It didn’t take long for Gunilla to convince me that she really wanted to
help and be a part of the family instead of just a houseguest. She
definitely has a servant’s heart. As long as we kept the coffee
pot/carafe full she was content. Yet personally I kept wavering over how
much time to spend on meals and the house and yard and how much to just
sit and get to know her. Overall I think it was a reasonable balance, but
when she comes again (which we hope!) I think I’ll be a little more
relaxed.

Some commentaries suggest that Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’ home was a
comfortable place for Jesus, kind of his “home away from home”. They were
very dear people to him, as evidenced by his grief over Lazarus’ death and
then his restoration of Lazarus’ life. Mary was the one who poured the
whole jar of nard over Jesus’ feet – certainly an act of devotion and also
very personal. Martha seems to be the older sister and more in charge of
the household.

It’s kind of bold for Martha to goad Jesus into making Mary help her with
the meal in this account. She must have felt put upon or left out…after
all, someone had to cook and serve or there would be no meal. When Jesus
repeats Martha’s name twice, it seems a bit endearing – like we would say
to our child or good friend – Martha, Martha – calm down. You’ve got
yourself all worked up and it’s no big deal. I think Gunilla would have
been content if we had cheese and crackers for every meal – she didn’t
care. She was here to get to know us and learn about ministry in an
American Lutheran Church and see how America and Sweden compare. Yet
wouldn’t we have been embarrassed if she went home and said “they didn’t
cook anything at all for me…it all came from a can or a box.”

I think there is a constant Mary and Martha struggle in life, in our
homes, and in our church. How much time do we spend with upkeep and how
much time do we spend with each other? How much time do we spend learning
and how much time ministering? How much money do we spend making the
church beautiful, a tribute to God’s majesty and attractive to others, and
how much money do we give away to the poor? Truly it is a balancing act,
and perhaps our call is to keep checking the scale…in life, at home, and
at church. Lutherans have a theology of “both and”…we are both saints and
sinners, slave and free, lost and found.

Where in your life do you hear Jesus saying “dear one, dear one, let me
help you choose the better thing?”

Blessings on your week,
Carla Vanatta, Associate in Ministry
Salem Lutheran Church

Salem Reminders:
The first Wednesday night cookout and study on the gift of time begins
this evening at 6 p.m. in Fellowship Hall and continues through the first
Wednesday in August. You are welcome at all or any – come when you can
and bring a dish to pass.

Pray for the No. Il Synod Assembly at Augustana College in Rock Island
this Friday and Saturday as they meet to listen, learn, and celebrate what
God has done and is doing in Northern Illinois. There will also be an
election for Bishop.

Between services Sunday Synod Assembly delegates will share highlights of
the assembly and Pastor Janet will lead us in another Genesis story.
Pray for Fathers everywhere that they might be the best example they can
to their children, that they might be faithful to their families and
spouse, and that they may grow to be men of deep faith and love. Pray
also for those who have lost their fathers and feel emptiness.