Fields United Methodist Church

Thoughts Along the Way

Pastor Tom Joyce

September 21, 2021

“There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part which will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:42

“Busy!” Have you ever noticed how many people, maybe including you, when asked how they are doing the answer is “busy?” It is true many of us lead a life that is constant motion, always “doing” something to keep busy. There seems to be a need to keep busy or to give the impression of busyness so others don’t think less of us. Yet here is Jesus visiting his dear friends Martha and Mary; Martha the quintessential “doer” and Mary the listener and contemplator of the Word. When asked how things are going, Martha would be the one who forthrightly asserts, “busy.” Mary on the other hand, would answer the same question, “just soaking it all in.” It was not Martha that Jesus lifted up, it was Mary as the one who “chose the better part.” So often Jesus witnesses to us what is contrary to how we think we should be living; Jesus is more concerned with us coming to know the Good News and then acting upon it, in faith than with our “busyness” that keeps us from just slowing down a bit to better understand the eternal gift Jesus is offering to us today. Spending time with Jesus through reading and discerning Scripture, meditating on the Word, or simply taking a pause from being “busy” to be filled will melt away the stress of our day to day living, understanding that we are called to “glorify God, and enjoy him forever.” (Westminster Catechism) We give glory to God when we pause to listen to God speak, and God does speak clearly if take time to listen. Work is important, there is no doubt, but in the midst of our work we need to give glory to God, to celebrate and to enjoy the eternal riches of knowing Jesus Christ; that is our primary work, or should I say “joy!” The story of Mary and Martha illustrates our struggle of prioritizing our lives. Note, Jesus did not say what Martha’s “doing” was bad, rather the choice of soaking in the Word will make even our day to day tasks a joy because of the one who “walks with [us] and talks with [us], and tells [us] that [we are] his own…” (“In the Garden,” #314UMH) It is time to give glory to God and enjoy God forever through listening to the voice of God calling you by name. Maybe your day to day work will become a joy and a celebration because you took the time to choose the better part, which is Jesus Christ.