Good Morning.
Are you busy today? Why? I
don’t mean to say that being busy is wrong, I just wonder if you ever ask
yourself “Why am I so busy?”
The reading in Ecclesiasticus this
morning says :
My child, do not busy yourself with many matters;
if you multiply activities, you will not be held blameless.
If you pursue, you will not overtake,
and by fleeing you will not escape.
There are those who work and struggle and hurry,
but are so much the more in want.
if you multiply activities, you will not be held blameless.
If you pursue, you will not overtake,
and by fleeing you will not escape.
There are those who work and struggle and hurry,
but are so much the more in want.
This wonderful little book of
wisdom is reflected in today’s Gospel reading as well. The story in the Gospel is of Jesus visiting
the home of May and Martha. Perhaps you
remember the story. Even with Jesus in
her home, Martha was kept busy with housework.
In fact, the Gospel says she was distracted with her chores. She hadn’t the time to think about Jesus’
presence in her home.
Her sister Mary, on the other
hand, sat down at Jesus’ feet and listened to His conversations and
teachings. Eventually Martha got doubly
frustrated by all she felt she had to do and the fact that Mary was doing
nothing. Martha complained to Jesus
about the fact that Mary was shirking her duty.
In fact, Martha wanted Jesus to tell Mary to get to work.
I can see the smile on Jesus’
face as he gently tried to tell her that Mary was doing the only thing that
really mattered.
How often do we fall into
that same trap? We feel that if we fill
the time with some chore or task, that we are using our time as it was meant to
be used. Sometimes the more tedious and
difficult the task is the better. After
all we’re “working” not playing.
Do you take the time to do
the “one thing” that Jesus speaks to Martha about? Here’s something for you to ponder. Taking the time every day to pray, to talk
with God, to submit yourself to God, and to listen for God’s guidance and
pleasure is that “one thing.” If you are
using “chores” to fill your day and convince yourself that you just don’t have
the time to talk with the Lord, then the time that you are filling with your
chores is as meaningless as if you spent the day with a glass of wine or a
bottle of beer doing nothing. Either
way, you have avoided doing the “one thing” that is truly important; the “one
thing” that is what Jesus called “the better part” of the many ways that we can
fill the moments of our lives.
Take the time every day to do
the “one thing.” Start each day with the
Lord. End each day with the Lord. Fill each day with the presence of the Lord
as He seeks to walk alongside you in all that you do.
Let us pray: Lord God, You made us in Your image. We give You thanks for the gifts and talents
that we have received. Keep us ever
mindful of the need to live our lives with You alongside. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Today’s readings are Ecclesiasticus
11:2-20; Revelation 9:13-21; Luke 10:38-42; Psalm 31 & 35.
Blessings.
Pastor Jim
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