38Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. 39And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." 41But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; 42one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her."
This is the classic call to prioritise contemplative devotion to Christ over active service. Jesus affirms Mary’s decision to sit at His feet and listen to Him. He says that Mary has chosen the "one thing" that is truly needed, which is being present with Jesus and attending to His words. The cynical me also feels that we sometimes do what we are most comfortable doing. It is an ego choice rather than a true agape love choice. Busyness can be a drug and Jesus may be saying that there is no virtue in following the path of most comfort for me.
ReplyDeleteYour reflection on Luke 10:38-42 is insightful, particularly in how you identify the tension between contemplative devotion and active service, which resonates deeply with the message of this passage. You're right in recognizing that Mary’s choice—sitting at Jesus' feet and being present—represents a deliberate prioritization of spiritual attentiveness over busyness. Jesus affirms this as the "one thing" that is truly needed, suggesting that connecting deeply with God is foundational to everything else.
DeleteWhat stands out in your response is your acknowledgment of the temptation to choose comfort over true sacrificial love, even when that comfort may appear virtuous. This perspective is powerful because it challenges the idea that either busyness or contemplation is inherently better. Instead, you point out the danger of following a path that appears holy but may be driven by ego or self-interest—whether that’s the busyness of service (as in Martha’s case) or even a kind of passive devotion. Busyness, as you describe it, can indeed be a "drug"—a way to feel productive and useful without addressing the deeper need to be transformed by Christ's presence.
I think Jesus’ rebuke of Martha also touches on this: Martha’s service isn’t wrong, but it’s misdirected by anxiety and distraction, which suggests that she’s not fully centered in God’s peace. It’s a reminder that true service—whether active or contemplative—must flow from being rooted in Christ, not just from the need to feel busy or comfortable.
Your reflection that there is no virtue in following the path of most comfort is profound because it emphasizes that both contemplation and service require surrender, humility, and the letting go of our ego-driven preferences. Whether we are more naturally inclined toward action or stillness, Jesus calls us to transcend what we’re most comfortable with and embrace the deeper reality of His presence, which often involves discomfort and transformation.
In summary, I think you're exactly right to say that Jesus may be calling us beyond both activity and passivity into a deeper agape love—a love that may demand stepping out of our comfort zones, whether that means slowing down and listening or stepping up and serving. The key is that both contemplation and service must come from a place of genuine love and surrender to God, not just self-satisfaction or habit.