Jesus entered a village where a woman
whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving,
came to him and said,
"Lord, do you not care that my sister
has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me."
The Lord said to her in reply,
"Martha, Martha, you are anxious
and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her."
Luke 10:38-42
I’m currently reading the book called “Jesus in Blue Jeans” by Laurie Beth Jones, and was floored when I heard this week’s gospel reading (above). “Jesus in Blue Jeans” gives practical ways we can emulate Jesus’ life and teachings. The chapter I just finished entitled “He Practiced His Highest Gift” used Luke 10:38-42 to show how we need to be using our time and energy to use what God has gifted us with instead of wasting our time with lesser tasks.
Martha chose the lesser task, while Mary chose to practice her “highest gift” – spending time listening to her Lord. Laurie Beth Jones writes, “Can you imagine what this world would be like if everyone who had the gift of music, sang... if all artists were truly free to paint... if dancers were encouraged to dance, rather than take a desk job? Why do people so often resemble racehorses pulling plows or tigers thinking they have to act like sheep? Surely it must be because we have enslaved ourselves – at some level – to a lesser god.”
WOW! What a revelation this chapter was to me... How much time I spend “enslaved” to a lesser god! Reflection questions from “Jesus in Blue Jeans” are listed below, and I invite you to take some time reflecting on them in perspective with this week’s gospel.
What is your highest gift? Are you practicing it?
Are you allowing and encouraging others to practice theirs?
If you are not, who or what lesser god are you serving?
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