EYES OPEN!

Dr. Richard J. Henderson July 22, 2007

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Amos 8:1-8
Luke 10: 38-42

Introduction

A college student spent one summer working as a volunteer at a Jesuit home for the poor in the slums of one of our inner cities. He, the Jesuit priests, and other volunteers worked every day dispensing food, providing clothing, and caring for the needs of the local people.

One day was particularly difficult. They had been very busy and a little short-handed, so at the end of the day they were all very tired. The young volunteer and an elderly Jesuit priest served the last person, walked him to the door, and prepared to close for the day. As he pulled the heavy oak door the young volunteer saw another poor, tattered man walking up the sidewalk to the center. The exhausted student looked out at the forlorn man shuffling his way toward the center and he muttered, "Jesus Christ."

The old Jesuit priest standing beside him said "Could be; could be. We better open the door."

I

We can be so involved in our work that we miss Christ when he is present among us. We can be so wrapped up in what we are doing - even when we are doing good - that we don't see the eternal when it is right there beside us.

Jesus was invited to Martha's house. That was a risky thing for her to do, a single woman inviting a man to her home. A pastor once preached a sermon on this passage and after church, as she was leaving, a single woman, living alone, said to the pastor, "I hope you appreciate the courage it takes for an unmarried woman to open the door at night and receive a man into her home." If it is difficult to do today, imagine how difficult it was in Jesus' day.

Martha is having an important guest, so she jumps into action, cleaning, dusting, preparing the kitchen. Before long she's exhausted. She wants to extend warm, gracious hospitality. Who knows, maybe Martha's last name was Stewart!

Maybe she hooked into the whole tradition of Southern hospitality. Mary Anderson, in an article she wrote about what southern hospitality can be, said this, "Those who have Southern hospitality refined never sit. They hover. Plates are never allowed to go empty. Guests are constantly asked if they need anything. In fact, many times the hostess will continue to cook all through the meal. This is one of the South's mysteries. The hostess keeps working, hugging around the table, a trickle of perspiration running past the string of pearls on her neck. She misses all dinner conversation, all sharing of feeling and information, and gives herself totally to serving." As this account shows, she is so involved in being a good hostess that she never gets to participate, and the guests never get to talk with her. Martha's preparations appear to be like this.

II

Jesus' comments to Martha aren't criticisms about her hospitality, but that she is doing too much. He says, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; only one thing is needed." The textual variation is interesting here. Maybe you noted when you read the text that there is a small letter "m" after the sentence we just read. It says, "Other ancient authorities read, few things are necessary, or only one."

Jesus seems to say, we don't need so much. We don't need four main courses, with salad, potatoes, two vegetables, rolls and dessert. Really, unleavened bread and a cup of wine is enough. Jesus probably doesn't want to go hungry, but a lavish feast isn't necessary either.

III

The problem with overdoing it is that Martha is missing out on the conversation with Jesus. While Mary sits at Jesus' feet taking in everything he is saying, Martha bustles in the kitchen. Better to realize that it is the Christ is in your midst and sit and listen and ask and talk. The real failure is not seeing the importance of the moment - missing the chance to spend some quality time with God's son.

Incidentally, Martha had religious tradition on her side; women were forbidden to sit at the feet of a rabbi and learn. What Mary was doing was considered inappropriate at best and illegal at worst. But Jesus not only allows it, he encourages her and her sister.

I think Jesus is saying to Martha, "You are way overdoing it. Food's not important right now, being here together is." He wants her to think about priorities. Which is more important: to serve a nice roast, or to talk about the important things in life with God's son?

And remember this is a critical time in Jesus' life - he is on his way to Jerusalem and facing his arrest and crucifixion. Especially now, it is important to hear, learn, be together. Capture the moment; stop everything and sit down.

IV

But there's a catch in all this. Jesus seems to just get us going in one direction and then he switches directions completely. What am I talking about? (I ask myself that often!)

This account of Jesus with Martha and Mary, and its message to stop your activity and just come and sit down, follows immediately after the parable of the Good Samaritan. The message in the story of the Good Samaritan was to act, get involved, and actively help someone in need. Be a Martha!

On the one hand Jesus says be actively involved, jump in and help, and the next thing we know he is saying stop your activity and just sit down.

What Jesus suggests is that there is a time to be actively helping other people, and there is a time to stop, sit and listen. In each of those instances, the Good Samaritan and Martha and Mary, the eternal was breaking into life.

Not acting to help the beat-up man would have been to miss an experience of God. To keep working in the kitchen while Jesus is in your living room was to miss an experience of God.

Maybe the idea is to stay alert to the moving of God in our lives. Be aware of when God may be whispering, when a situation may be an experience of God, and be ready to work - or stop working - as the situation requires. Don't be so wrapped up in what you are doing that you miss the Son of God right under your nose.

Conclusion

This is a biblical story for suburbanites. Can't you feel it? Can't you imagine Jesus sitting in the wingback chair in the living room, and you're worrying about getting Billy to his soccer game at 3:30 and Amy to her dance lesson at 4:15. And, oh my gosh, you still haven't finished her costume! You haven't even thought about packing for the trip, and what are we going to have for dinner? Well, maybe we can go to McDonald's, but that will be the third time this week.

We miss the eternal in our midst because we are so caught up in the moment. We don't see the lasting, important things because we're drowning in the temporary.

I think Jesus is showing us - eyes open! Ears alert! When you sense God in your world, get ready to drop everything and respond.

Amen

© Richard J. Henderson 2007