Luke
10:38-42— Jesus
visits with Martha and Mary in their home. The church needs to reach out into
the world demonstrating the compassion of Christ. This is seen in the work of
Martha. The church at the same time needs to become a redemptive community –
demonstrated by the actions of Mary. Mary chose to fulfill that need by sitting
at His feet to learn from Jesus. We can not neglect physical bread for spiritual
bread. Both are needed. But which is more important? In the Gospel text Jesus
answers this: “Mary chose “the good portion.” Donating food, clothing, shelter,
medical care and the like is important yet the Savior encourages us to give top
priority to the spiritual needs of life.
V. 39 informs us that Mary “sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His Word.” More accurately translated,
it should read that she “kept hearing His
Word” (imperfect tense in the Greek) The reception of God‘s Word is never a
momentary or once-for all event; it is a process of regular, continual,
persistent hearing of God’s Word.
For newness of life in Christ: Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast
away the works of darkness and put upon ourselves the armor of light now in the
time of this mortal life in which Your Son, Jesus Christ, came to visit us in
great humility, that in the Last Day, when He shall come again to glorious
majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to life immortal;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. [2]
[1] Luther’s Seal, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher things
[2] Collect for newness of life in Christ, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis
[3] Collect for Friday of the week of Pentecost 6, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. II © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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