The Unauthorized Homily

By Bill Dunn

A commentary on the Scripture readings from the Sunday Lectionary

(Scripture readings for Sunday, July 18th: Genesis 18:1-10; Colossians 1:24-28; Luke 10:38-42)

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MARTHA NOT THE ONLY ANXIOUS COMPLAINER

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing.”

“America, America, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing.”

Jesus offered the first statement to Martha, who was on the verge of a major hissy fit because of the following issues: she had a lot of work to do; her sister Mary was not helping one bit; and most of all (my theory, anyway), no one was paying attention to her and telling her how wonderful she was.

Martha’s jaw must have dropped to the floor when Jesus said, “Mary has chosen the better part.”

Can you imagine Martha’s indignation? Who knows how long she had been working feverishly in the kitchen, preparing a lavish meal for Jesus and His disciples. Martha was probably known as the Martha Stewart of Palestine, a fabulous host, but (just like the real Martha Stewart) you’d better not get on her bad side.

Meanwhile, her sister Mary simply sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to Him speak. Bursting with indignation, Martha finally stormed into the living room, no doubt with flour on her hands and sweat trickling down her forehead, and demanded that Jesus tell Mary to get off her butt and help out in the kitchen.

I’m sure Martha fully expected Jesus to agree with her and tell Mary to get up and help. Martha probably was quite used to having people agree with her and do what she said, especially when she went into her woe-is-me, drama queen act.

But Jesus calmly said, in effect, “Nope. Not this time, Martha. Mary is staying here. This is more important.”

The more important thing that Mary had chosen to do is very basic: listen to the Word of the Lord. Jesus, the Word made flesh, was speaking. Mary listened and relaxed. Martha did not listen and became filled with anxiety.

There is nothing in the Bible that indicates Mary was habitually lazy or irresponsible. It’s just that at that moment in time, she knew being in a close relationship with the Lord was more important than panicking about a daunting to-do list.

If Jesus were here in the flesh today, He just might say, “America, America, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing.”

The other day I was listening to a few guys complain about, well, everything. The economy stinks; the BP oil well is destroying the oceans; the government is taking away our freedoms and saddling future generations with a mountain of debt; half the country is living off entitlements paid for by the overworked other half; health care costs are bankrupting us; and certain plumbing and heating contractors aren’t paying their invoices on time. The consensus was that our country is going to Hell in a hand basket and life as we know it will surely come to an end any day now. (OK, your suspicions are correct. I was right in there complaining along with the rest of them. Hey, what can I say? I was born with an amazing talent for whining and moaning.)

Yes, things are rather dicey these days in the good ol’ U.S. of A., especially economically and culturally. But the guys engaged in that particular complaint session—all convinced we are overburdened with the responsibility of taking care of our families, our businesses, and the 50-percent of the population who live off of our tax dollars—have an awful lot to be thankful for. Each one of us has a loving family, lots of friends, good health, and a successful career. And this particular gripe-a-thon took place on a Friday afternoon on the back nine of a gorgeous, sun-drenched golf course. Despite all these blessings, we had become four middle-aged male Marthas, focused on our problems and burdens, and no longer aware of the “one thing” that is needed: Jesus, the Word made flesh.

I recently heard a preacher on the radio speculate about the aftermath of the episode we hear in this week’s gospel reading. Mary, after absorbing the life-changing Word of the Lord and putting her hope and trust in Jesus, became a better Martha than Martha. She became a renowned host, serving others as well as Martha ever did, but with joy and peace and no anxiety. And Martha, after thinking about what Jesus said (but first after steaming about the whole thing for a few days), realized the profound truth of His words, and became a better Mary than Mary. She became a renowned spiritual pillar in the community, offering care and comfort to everyone in need.

We don’t know for sure if the two sisters changed exactly in the way the radio preacher suggested. Scripture doesn’t tell us much more about them. But considering the supernatural power of Jesus, it certainly is possible. The same life-changing power that Jesus offered to Martha and Mary is available to us today. People who get overwhelmed at times about the trials and tribulations of our modern world—and who lose sight of our many blessings while exerting so much energy on complaining about, well, everything—must do just what Mary did: put the lengthy to-do list off to the side, and sit at the feet of Jesus and just listen.

We Americans who “are anxious and worried about many things,” need to absorb the Word of the Lord, put our hope and trust in Jesus, and remember that God is in charge. We know it worked for Mary and presumably it worked for Martha. It can work for us, too. And who knows, when we stop complaining and put our trust in Jesus, it not only will take away anxiety, it may even straighten out a persistent slice.

©2010