WHAT TIME IS IT?

Dr. Richard J. Henderson July 18, 2004

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Psalm 15 (responsive)
Luke 10:38-42

Introduction

How many of you have heard a sermon about this story of Martha and Mary? Those sermons probably said Mary saw what was important and listened to Jesus, while Martha was busy in the kitchen fussing over the food.

Martha feels put upon that she has to do everything herself, so she angrily comes to Jesus for help. "This isn't fair - I'm in there slaving over a hot stove and my sister doesn't even lift a finger to help; she just sits here doing nothing!"

Surprise! Jesus doesn't scold Mary as Martha wants him to, but says Mary has made the better choice. "You are busy about many things, but Mary stopped and listened to my words." It's a classic story of doing a lot versus doing what's important. It's about the difference between getting a lot done, and getting a lot.

I

Picture the next time Jesus comes to visit these two sisters. Jesus sits down and both sisters sit at his feet listening to all he has to say. They take in his profound words, they learn about faith and life. They are moved, startled, challenged and helped.

After a while, Mary's stomach begins to rumble. She politely tries to hide it but makes furtive glances toward the kitchen. She looks over to Martha and then to the kitchen again. But Martha has learned her lesson; she isn't going to waste time in the kitchen when Jesus, the Messiah, is right here in the room.

After a while, Mary and Martha are having trouble concentrating because they're hungry. Mary begins to squirm. After a few more minutes she blurts out, "I need something to eat!"

Maybe, at that point they all go out to the kitchen and enjoy some grapes, figs, and pita bread with a little wine. They carry on their conversation as they stand snacking on the food in the kitchen. No one prepares much and they all get something to eat.

II

It's important that we see this experience in its context. Look at the account that comes immediately before it. This passage about Mary and Martha comes right after a passage that is very different.

In the story just before this one, a lawyer comes to Jesus wanting to learn what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus asks him what the Jewish law says? The lawyer responds, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus says, "Right. Do this and you will live." Jesus turns to leave. "Wait a minute!" the lawyer says, "Who is my neighbor?"

Jesus begins a story. A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked - he was robbed, stripped, beaten and left there half-dead. As luck would have it, a priest came down that road. He saw the man lying there, but he passed by on the other side. Next, a Levite came along, but when he saw the beaten man, he also passed by on the other side of the road.

Finally, a Samaritan came along. Samaritans were the hated enemy. They were considered half-breeds and people who had given up their faith because they had diluted it with the culture. This despised, unfaithful enemy saw the beaten man and had pity on him. He stopped and poured healing oil and wine on the man's wounds and wrapped them in bandages. Then he picked up the man put him on his animal, and took him to an inn. He said to the innkeeper, "Give him whatever he needs, and when I return, I will repay you for everything."

Then Jesus asked, "Which of these three was a neighbor to the man?" The lawyer gave the obvious answer - the Samaritan. Jesus said, "Go and do the same."

III

Immediately after the account of the Good Samaritan comes the account of Martha and Mary. Do you see the contrast? Butted up next to each other is a story of GO and DO and a story of STOP and LISTEN.

The first story says to get up, help and act decisively. The second story says to sit down, listen and reflect. One says to go; the other says go stop. One says to jump into work; the other says to stop working.

IV

Jesus is saying, in each moment, to watch for what is most important. The Gospel puts the account of Martha and Mary immediately following the account of the Good Samaritan. That tells us not only to drop everything and sit down when something important is being said, but to drop everything and jump in to help when action is called for.

When you are in the presence of the Holy - stop and listen. When you see someone in need, get up and help. The response called for depends on the situation we face.

Jesus isn't saying spend your life sitting and listening; doing nothing. Jesus isn't saying fill your life with busy-ness and activity. He is saying discern in each moment what is most important. Decide the right response depending on what the moment calls for. It was right for the Samaritan to forget about his own purity and safety and help the beaten man. The situation called for it. It was right for Mary not to help her sister in the kitchen but to sit at Jesus' feet listening instead. The situation called for it.

In these two passages, Jesus tells us to discern the time and respond to what is most important. Act when we need to act. Listen when we need to listen.

Conclusion

Two weeks ago - on the Fourth of July - we were driving to meet our son for lunch in Jackson. Just as we got to the Scio exit, a car spun out of control about one hundred feet in front of us. It hit the guardrail and smashed into an on-coming car. The cars ahead of us slowed down - some veered around the accident and went on. We saw people on the other side of the expressway pull off the road, jump out of their cars, and cross the highway to help. One of them was a large man in an orange T-shirt and cut off sweatpants.

I got out of the car to see if there was anything I could do. The ambulances hadn't arrived yet, but 911 had been called. A man was lying on the cement face down; the man in the orange T-shirt was crouched down talking with him. Apparently, the man was having trouble breathing. Two women stood against the guardrail crying. A young man stood by the smashed car, visibly shaking - he was going into shock.

Suddenly, without getting up from his crouched position the man in the orange T-shirt shouted, "I need some help over here!" Three of us went over. He said for us to kneel on the right side of the man on the ground. Then he said, "Reach over him to a bony part of the body - a leg or hip or arm -and gently turn him over. I will hold his neck." Gradually turn him on my count.

After we had turned the man over, he asked him, "Can you breathe better now?" The man indicated yes. A few minutes later the EMS trucks arrived and techs came running with stretchers and oxygen. The man in the orange shirt filled them in on what had happened and they took over.

Some of the people stopped in their cars were anxious to get moving. Some sat in their cars reading, some had run to see if they could help. I've thought a lot about that man in the orange shirt. He could have just kept going. But instead, he saw what was happening in the moment, acted quickly, and made a difference for someone he had never met.

Jesus isn't just saying to slow down and listen; he is saying we should know what is important in the moment. Know when to jump in and help. Know when to sit back and listen.

Amen.

©Richard J. Henderson 2004