The Better Part

Sunday 10:30 Homily -- We all know the story of Martha and Mary with Jesus gently scolding Martha.  Mary is at his feet listening.  According to Jesus, “Mary chose the better part.”  We all suspect Jesus was telling Martha to slow down and, like Mary, listen to him instead of serving.  

As a deacon whose ministry is to serve, I’ve always found this story a bit strange because for me and my fellow deacons, such as Deacon Lemay, “the better part” is service.  We are to serve the sick in hospitals and nursing homes. We are to serve the aged, prisoners, the young on college campuses, the poor, minority communities, and newly arrived immigrants. We are to serve you.

Then again, how can we serve well and properly if we don’t first slow down and listen to Jesus. This pertains to all of us here in this church with our new pastor Father Healey having to be an example for us about how best to serve.

Lost in our reading of this Martha-Mary passage from Luke, is the question: “What is Martha really doing?”  The answer is subtle.  Let’s listen.
 
Likely pointing to Mary and perhaps raising her voice, Martha asks Jesus: “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?”  Then she commands, “Tell her to help me.”  Martha is shaming Mary, or at least trying to and hoping Jesus will do what she asks.    

How often do we shame other people – co-workers, friends, and even those we love?  Hopefully, not too often.  We certainly shame our pets especially when there is an accident on a rug.  “Bad Dog!  Shame on you!”  Like the dog understands.

Perhaps we shame people we don’t even know.  This has become commonplace in our society due to internet shaming with cyber gangs having mob mentality.

These mobs, with many of us being gang members, use social media websites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat to digitally attack, wound, and publically shame others for careless remarks or inappropriate or misguided actions.  This happens through anonymous cyber chatting and gossiping that hurts people and destroys reputations.  When someone makes a mistake, an apology with sincere remorse is just not enough.

Think about the mother whose boy fell into a gorilla pit on Memorial Day weekend.  The gorilla was shot and killed to protect the boy.  A mob of Internet gorilla-defenders cruelly shamed his mother.  Strangers targeted her on Facebook and sent her angry messages including death threats.

How often have we unwittingly joined the mob or simply acted on our own seeking revenge, acting out of envy, or just being mean? To whom have we shown little mercy?  Have we forgotten to show compassion?

Jesus scolds us, perhaps gently and likely says to us all: “Sit at my feet and listen like Mary. 
Choose the better part.  Forgive.  Stop the hurt you cause.  Stop throwing digital stones.  Show your love.  Simply…be…kind.”

Deacon David Pierce