Luke 10:37-42: a reflection

37He said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” 38As they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word. 40But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me.” 41Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

When Jesus visits the home of Martha and Mary, the two sisters respond very differently. Martha is distracted with much serving, busy and anxious, and complains that Mary is not helping; but Mary sits at Jesus' feet, listening to his word. And Jesus gently corrects Martha: Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her. Mary had chosen the one thing needful, sitting at Jesus' feet to hear him, above the many distractions of busy serving. Jesus commends her choice: to be with him and hear his word is the good part, the one thing needed.

Notice what Jesus commends as the one thing needful: being with him, sitting at his feet, hearing his word. Martha was not doing anything wrong in serving; but she was distracted, anxious, troubled about many things, and had let the busyness crowd out the one thing needed. Mary, by contrast, had chosen to sit at Jesus' feet and listen, choosing the good part, being with him and hearing his word above the many distractions. Jesus does not condemn service, but names the priority: one thing is needed, and Mary had chosen it. To be with Christ, at his feet, hearing his word, is the good part, more needful than the busyness that can crowd it out. The one thing needed is being with him.

That is worth taking to heart, for the one thing needful is to be with Christ and hear his word, above the many distractions of busyness. We can be like Martha, distracted with much serving, anxious and troubled about many things, letting busyness crowd out the one thing needed; but Mary chose the good part, sitting at Jesus' feet to hear him. Being with Christ, hearing his word, is the one thing needful, not to be crowded out by the many distractions. Do not let the many distractions of busyness crowd out the one thing needful, being with Christ and hearing his word; choose the good part, as Mary did. Choose the one thing needful, being with Christ and hearing his word, above the many distractions of anxious busyness, as Mary chose the good part sitting at Jesus' feet while Martha was distracted with much serving; for the one thing needed is to be with Christ and hear him, and this good part, chosen above the busyness that would crowd it out, will not be taken away.

Lord Jesus, when you visit the home of Martha and Mary, the two sisters respond very differently. Martha is distracted with much serving, busy and anxious, and complains that Mary is not helping; but Mary sits at your feet, listening to your word. And you gently correct Martha: Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed; Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her. Mary had chosen the one thing needful, sitting at your feet to hear you, above the many distractions of busy serving. Show me what you commend as the one thing needful: being with you, sitting at your feet, hearing your word. Martha was not doing anything wrong in serving; but she was distracted, anxious, troubled about many things, and had let the busyness crowd out the one thing needed. Mary, by contrast, had chosen to sit at your feet and listen, choosing the good part. You do not condemn service, but name the priority: one thing is needed, and Mary had chosen it. To be with you, at your feet, hearing your word, is the good part, more needful than the busyness that can crowd it out. Take that to my heart, for the one thing needful is to be with you and hear your word, above the many distractions of busyness. I can be like Martha, distracted with much serving, anxious and troubled about many things, letting busyness crowd out the one thing needed; but Mary chose the good part. Keep me from letting the many distractions of busyness crowd out the one thing needful, being with you and hearing your word; help me choose the good part, Lord, as Mary did, sitting at your feet to hear you.