Tuesday, April 7th, 2020

There is an especially poignant story in the Bible that applies to the incredibly strange, and stressful, pandemic situation we all find ourselves in. It is recorded by Luke, as Jesus and the disciples stayed at a woman named Martha’s house in one particular village. Luke says, “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” "Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” We can all relate to Martha, both by feeling the need to provide for guests, but also her frustration that her sister Mary is seemingly doing nothing to help her! While we aren’t hosting people these days, we all are searching for ways to stay busy and keep ourselves occupied. Jesus made clear that instead of being a Martha during this pandemic, we are to be a Mary — prioritizing being with Jesus and listening to him over anything else. Today, be a Mary, not a Martha.

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” "Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” — Luke 10:38-42 NIV