Much like last Sunday’s Gospel of the Good Samaritan, this week’s gospel presents us with familiar figures who invite personal reflection. The story of Martha and Mary has been read, preached, and pondered over for centuries, yet still it surprises, still it stirs. That is the enduring beauty of Scripture: its capacity to speak differently into our lives depending on the season we are in.

Perhaps in times of busyness or stress, we relate more closely to Martha: faithful, generous, yet overwhelmed and frustrated. At other times, we long to be like Mary, drawn to the stillness of simply being with Jesus. The two sisters don’t so much compete for approval as they together represent the tension many of us live in, between doing and being, serving and receiving, working and listening.

What stands out in this encounter is not that Jesus dismisses Martha’s service, it’s that he lovingly redirects her attention. ‘Martha, Martha,’ he says, naming her anxiety and reminding her that only one thing is truly necessary. In doing so, he offers each of us a gentle invitation to pause, to rest, and to lean in and remember who we are in the presence of God.

Every time I return to this Gospel, it feels like Jesus is offering me a quiet place at his feet, saying, ‘Be still. This moment matters.’ No wonder Everett Harris once said, ‘No one ever graduates from bible study until they meet the author face to face.’

May this gospel remind us that in all our striving and serving, the better part is always found in sitting with Christ and that will never be taken from us. 

Have a blessed day.

By Colleen Tracey