Fifth Sunday after Trinity. 17[th] |July 2022 Luke 10.38  -  end 


We have some guests from New Zealand coming to stay next week, a couple whom we first met nearly 60 years ago.  I was much involved in their wedding in 1966 in Japan and we have met them fairly regularly over the years.   So we are looking forward very much to seeing them again. All will be a minor hustle and bustle as we prepare to meet them at the station, then make sure that they are comfortable at our home. What we need to bear in mind, however, is that there is no need to overload them with hospitality, and we need to have time for catching up. Above all we need them to look back on their stay in a favourable light. 

In our Bible reading today describes a scene whilst the disciples were on their way Jerusalem.  

I confess that I have a certain sympathy, for Martha bustling about trying to ensure, I would guess, that all went well for Jesus' stay,  whilst Mary sat at his feet and enjoyed his company.
                       " What is life if full of care.
                     We have no time to stand and stare"
Well, I don't think Mary would have been vacantly staring,  however desirable that might be, but she would surely have been listening to what Jesus had to say, though the Bible does not tell us what that was. 

Martha was probably pretty irritated with Mary. If Mary helped her, she's have less to do and not be distracted by chores. because she needed Mary's help. 

 But we need to remember that Martha chose to be distracted., doing more than was probably needed. And doing the conventional thing.   In those days women were expected to keep busy behind the scenes. Stretching our imagination,  Martha may have thought that Jesus should have noticed how busy she was and suggested that Mary go to the kitchen to help.  Mary for her part was going against the custom of the day by remaining  alone with Jesus the guest. 

Are we listening to Jesus or are we distracted ?  These days there are multiple distractions for women and men.  Children, jobs, school runs, housework, social media generally. 


