MONDAY

SCRIPTURE: Luke 10:38-42

Prerequisites. Perhaps you have had the experience of wanting to take a course of study and found that before you can take that course, there are some things you need to do first, presumably to make sure you have the foundation needed to be ready for what the course offers. Last Sabbath, we noticed the experiences that God led Moses and the children of Israel through before they got to Sinai, perhaps so they would be more ready, when they arrived, to understand what God was wanting to share with them. Getting things in the right order, or seeing things from the right perspective, can make a huge difference! Today’s Scripture passage is all about getting things in the right order and seeing things from the right perspective—or what we often call “prioritizing.” When our lives are full of things to manage, and there never seems to be enough time to do the things we want to do (apologies to Jim Croce), the urgency to juggle it all sometimes distracts us to the point of neglecting what is most important. As you thoughtfully read through and reflect on Mary and Martha’s story in today’s passage, take a few moments to think about the following:

• What an amazing gift it is when someone opens their home to us, especially when that might include around a dozen people! This was a hospitable space that Jesus was welcomed into. Where do you experience spaces like this in your own life?

• Can you think of a time when you had the opportunity (or the time) to just sit, listen, and absorb something meaningful that was being shared with you? In the passage’s time and place, women did not get to sit at the feet of rabbis and listen to their teaching, so what an amazing thing that with this rabbi, Mary was not only tolerated, but welcomed! What parts of Mary’s experience can you connect with?

• Perhaps you can think of times when you felt pressure to make sure everything went the way you wanted it to, and maybe felt like you were the only one who appreciated the need to do that! Martha was so distracted by those concerns that she tried to get Jesus to tell Mary to help her. When have you found yourself in a similar place, or perhaps been on the receiving end of someone else’s stress?

• Often, when this story is discussed, it seems to elicit an instinct from those hearing it to want to protect or defend Martha. Have you ever noticed or experienced this? Why do you think that is?

• As you listen to Jesus’ response, notice what he corrects and what he protects. How does that resonate with you?

Take a few moments to share with God in prayer what this story stirs in you as you reflect on the things that distract and worry us and the things we tend to prioritize.