Luke 10:38–42
If Jesus was
coming to dinner, what would you serve him? Would you create a complete turkey
dinner, with a fancy table setting, or pizza take-out on disposable dishes?
·
What does each type of meal say about you and
about your guest?
·
How much time will you spend preparing, serving,
and cleaning up with each meal?
·
Would Jesus care which meal he was served? Why
or why not?
We can
understand Jesus’ words to Martha as reprimand: “I’m only going to be with you
for a little while. Sit with me while you can!”
Or, we can
understand it as encouragement. “Please, come, sit and listen, and learn from
me. What I have to share with you is much more important than a fancy
meal.”
I think Jesus’
words to Martha are an invitation for all women to shed the assumption that
their place is in the background. Women’s place in Jesus’ world is right next
to the men, sitting at Jesus’ feet to learn from him. Women in Jesus’ world
followed him, supported him financially, and I believe they were among the 70
who were sent out to do ministry.
I have this
vision: as the male disciples went into a town to speak with other men, so the
female disciples went into a town to speak with other women. The men went to
the butcher shop, the flour mill, the sandal maker, the shepherd, and the
fishermen. They spoke about Jesus with the men as they worked.
The women went
to the well, to the communal oven, to the spice market, the olive oil vendor,
and the vegetable shop. They told the women about Jesus in the places where the
women went. In this way, all people were able to hear about Jesus.
Martha and
Mary were Jesus’ friends. We don’t know just how he knew them, but he
apparently spent time in their home. These sisters are the same women who send
to Jesus to keep their brother Lazarus from dying.
Apparently,
Martha learned to stop fussing about the meal to be served and instead learned
to sit at Jesus’ feet and learn from him. By the time Lazarus was ill, she knew
he taught about God in new ways, and had special powers for healing. She
learned to choose the better part.
So, how about
you? Do get so busy you neglect to take time to sit with Jesus? Do you think
you have to have the perfect prayer life or you might as well not bother
praying? Does your prayer life consist
only of giving God a list of concerns? Or does your prayer life include
spending time listening to God?
I want to
share a prayer pattern with you that helps put the focus on listening to God
and responding to what God has to say to you. If you like it, I have put this
into the newsletter so you will have it in print soon, or you can find some
copies in the box outside my door. It’s the Body Prayer of Julian of Norwich.
She’s a mystic from the 15th century.
First, the four motions, and then, what they mean.
AWAIT (hands at waist, cupped up to receive a gift)
ALLOW (reach up, hands open)
ACCEPT (hands at heart, cupped towards body)
ATTEND (hands outstretched, giving back)
AWAIT God’s message for you. It may be as simple as “I love you,” or “Thanks for spending time with me.” Or, “You need to apologize.”
ALLOW God’s message to reach your heart. Do you need to feel love? Do you need to give love? Do you need to thank God for something? Do you need to ask for forgiveness?
ACCEPT the message and the challenge God may have given you. Take the time to understand the message and prepare your heart to act on it.
ATTEND to the message, making happen what God has asked you to do. Tell yourself God loves you. Reflect on what God has given you. Go to the person and make amends.
Again, the four motions.
AWAIT (hands at waist, cupped up to receive a gift)
ALLOW (reach up, hands open)
ACCEPT (hands at heart, cupped towards body)
ATTEND (hands outstretched, giving back)
Jesus wants us
to spend time sitting at his feet, not telling him our list of needs and
concerns, but hearing what he has to say to us.
I challenge
you this week to take time sitting and listening to Jesus. Maybe you already do
this. Maybe this is a new thought for you. Maybe you have tried it and got
bored. These body movements may help you pay attention.
It takes time,
and it takes practice, but I think you will enjoy it.
Please pray
with me. Jesus, you call us to listen, to spend time with you. Chase away our
distractions, be patient with us, and welcome us into your presence. Amen
Note: You will find the video on YouTube by searching for Body Prayer of Julian of Norwich. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iImZilFvOE
