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.” Luke 10:38-42

A good sermon can be preached in a house, in a church, on a street corner, anywhere. Sometimes, when someone comes to visit us, it is as powerful and as enriching as a good sermon. It is good to share the Good News, but sometimes it is more important to listen. Sitting at Christ’s feet, as Mary does, demonstrates how ready she was to listen to the Word, and if not submitting to the guidance of it.  Martha was doing what Martha does—she is the one who, on multiple occasions, is serving, rather than listening. It was her place in first century Palestine–providing for the entertainment and the comfort of her guests—just this time it included Jesus, and those that came with him. She demonstrates the respect for Jesus and also the right care of her household affairs. And still, she is the one who receives ridicule and blame.

Worldly business, the cares of our personal affairs, and the worries that come with fulfilling the prescribed societal roles, all of these can be a snare to us, when it hinders us from serving G-d or serving others. Look, I am all for entertaining – for getting together with friends, and enjoying a party. However, we should not allow our want for entertaining to interfere with our responsibilities for Jesus. Though Martha chose to serve, this does not mean she is any less of a true believer. She provided for the needs of her guests, and in the process she provided for her Lord. Christ may have declared that Mary had chosen the good part, but Martha provided – and both are necessary in serving our Lord. 

Pastor Dave

 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” ¹⁸ He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. ¹⁹ See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. ²⁰ Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”²¹ At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. ²² All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”  Luke 10:17-22

“Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us.” All of the battles and victories we have over evil are accomplished by the power of Jesus Christ working in and through us. As such, Jesus must have all the praise. We need to fight the urge and power of spiritual pride, which has been the down-fall of many. Jesus rejoiced at the prospect of people coming to faith in G-d, but he also warned his disciples to be humble and to count their blessings and remember from where they have come, and from where their powers to teach, preach and  heal have come. Simply put, we are dependent on the teaching, help, and blessing of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, even when we are successful – successful to the point of defeating evil spirits. So, let us remember that all of our victories, and all of our joys in ministry are victories only won through the power of the Holy Spirit, and the presence of Jesus, the Risen One – who sends us out to bring in the harvest.

Pastor Dave