Anxious And Worried

Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

The M&M sisters are with Jesus.  He has them both in the palm of his hand.  Only Martha seems to melt in anger and with resentment.  Mary is not helping.  Martha asks Jesus to tell her to get to work because there is much serving to do.  Jesus sides with Mary who “has chosen the better part.”  

Perhaps Jesus is telling all of us Martha’s that we are anxious and worried about too many things.  Then again, today’s economic, political, and public health woes give us good reason to be anxious and worry.  In a way, we are all burdened with much serving such as striving to help our families and friends deal with these perplexing and in many cases devastating problems such as loss of job, inability to pay rent, loss of business, and death of a loved one caused by the coronavirus.

Of course, it is good to think of ourselves as sitting at Jesus’ feet to listen to him speak.  But, we are Martha’s always in need of help to face and deal with our woes.  We Martha’s must turn to Jesus and ask, “Lord, do you not care that you have left us by ourselves to do the serving?  Help us so we will not be so anxious and worried about many things.”

Deacon David Pierce