Listen

By contrast, Martha was preoccupied with getting everything ready for their meal. So Martha came to him and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to prepare the table all by myself? Tell her to help me.”

Luke 10:40

Think

When we were younger, my sister and I had cleaning up the holidays down to a science. We forged our division of labor because our parents used to drive our grandma back to her nursing home after holiday gatherings. We wanted to finish cleaning before they’d return, knowing they’d be exhausted. We worked together so that everything got done, and then we could usually sneak extra pieces of leftover pie before Mom and Dad got home, too.

Martha is struggling to make everything clean and nice for Jesus. Her sister is just sitting there. Finally fed up, Martha lashes out. What Martha doesn’t realize though, is that of course Jesus saw all that she was doing. But Martha fails to see what Mary is doing — actually sitting with and listening to Jesus.

What joy could Mary and Martha have found if they’d worked together and — more importantly — sat together, welcoming and hosting Jesus?

In our efforts to encounter God today, may we recognize and learn from the faith and actions of those around us too.

Molly Logan

Pray

Gracious and loving God, please don’t let my piety get in the way of my faith. Help me to celebrate the faith of others as I seek to know you honestly. I know that you see me. Amen.

Go

Lord, you have examined me. You know me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up. Even from far away, you comprehend my plans. You study my traveling and resting. You are thoroughly familiar with all my ways. There isn’t a word on my tongue, Lord, that you don’t already know completely. You surround me—front and back. You put your hand on me.

Psalm 139:1-5

God knows you and loves you.

Receive and live in the reality of that gracious encounter and embrace today.