Sisters

Lily Cathcart September 14, 2022 0 2

Playlists

Add to Favourites

Save for later

Listen to this daily worship

Luke 10: 38-42 (NRSVA)

38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ 41 But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’

This week we are reading passages in Luke through the eyes of Joanna one of Jesus’s supporters and followers.

JOANNA:

“Have you met Martha and Mary? Two strong women, kind women, funny women. It shows a lack of creativity doesn’t it that so many reduce them to this one argument about whether women should serve or listen.

Mary and Martha were always two halves of the same coin to hear their brother tell it. When one did something the other would do something else but somehow they always balanced and shared because they loved each other. When one forgot something the other remembered.

You hear about Jesus telling Martha to sit and listen, thinking she wasn’t listening at all, and people hear of Mary not helping and think she was lazy.

It doesn’t tell you how Jesus smiled at Martha busy thinking of others before herself and how he had wanted her to hear the next story from beginning to end so she could feel more empowered in the acts of service her discipleship demanded. It doesn’t tell you how Jesus smiled at Mary as she sat rapt by his words as if he could see the new plans and hopes that were building themselves in her mind as he spoke.

Jesus knew them well and he loved them both in all their modes. Just as he loves us all in our business and our attentiveness."

PRAYER:

Dear God who knows us

Thank you that you care about us and love us

Help us to find balance and prioritise hearing you in our hearts

May your words be in us as we go out to serve the world

Empower us with plans for your planet using our own unique skills

Amen