Mary and Martha
Luke 10:38-42
Jesus is on a journey and comes to a village where a woman named Martha and her sister, Mary, welcome Him into their home. Mary sits down at the feet of Jesus and listens to Him speak. Martha, out of her need to provide hospitality, is busy with things needed for serving. She tells Jesus that Mary needs to help her and would He please ask her to do so. Jesus, with a kind voice, says, "Martha, Martha, you worry and fret about so many things and yet, few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her. You worry too much, Mary is doing fine."
In the Jewish tradition, at the time of Jesus, teachers did not allow women to sit at their feet and be taught, but Jesus was a kind teacher and allowed her to join the others. It is always nice to be a good host or hostess, but when you have Jesus in your home, it is always best to listen to His teaching – other things can wait. We, like Martha, can be so caught up in activities – busy work – that we fail to hear what our Lord could be directing us to do and, in so doing, leaving Him totally out of our lives.
I had the privilege of attending the annual Altar Guild luncheon and was reminded of the great dedication of these women as they meet on a regular schedule to share and pray together, as a team, before they do the work of preparing the several different worship spaces for the next service. That is truly the coming together of the Marys and the Marthas to do the ministry they were called to do.
When serving as Rector of several churches, it was a privilege to work with the Altar Guild. I was always impressed with the dedication that I witnessed in the time it took each week and the schedule to keep especially during church holidays, not to mention baptisms, weddings and funerals.
When it comes to time and talent, serving on the Altar Guild is a great example of stewardship that is offered to our Lord for the ministry and sacraments of the church, and our worship services would not be complete without them.
A lesson to be learned from Mary and Martha is that Jesus came to serve mankind and not to be served. He was sent to proclaim salvation, and the best way to respond to Him is to take time to listen to His teaching and put into practice what we have learned.
Let us pray.
Holy Father, thank You for the dedication and commitment of those who assist in the worship services of St. Martin’s. More especially do we remember the members of the Altar Guild, whose loving hands prepare the Lord's Table for the sacraments of the church. All this we ask in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
