Trouble... Worry, Worry, Worry, Worry.
A reading for Friday, October 24, 2014: Luke 10:38-42.
Trouble... worry, worry, worry, worry. There is so much trouble in the world. Watching the news is like a fight, duck and punch. That one missed us, but here comes another one, and another, and another. We punch and we punch, but the fight never seems to be over.
Terrorism and random violent assaults on police and military. ISIS. Ebola. Economics. Racism. Just in my own neighborhood this week, a streak of burglaries and home invasions. It never stops. Duck, here it comes again.
In our lesson today, Martha is frustrated with Jesus and her sister Mary who seem not to care about all the trouble and worry she feels. Mary simply sits at the feet of Jesus. “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me,” says Martha.
Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.” While Martha fights alone, Mary has chosen to depend on Jesus and to live fully in the presence of the Lord.
There are many, many things for us to worry about. There are things that demand our attention, and we should and must pay attention to them. This is no calling to just abandon the world and to retreat into isolation and seclusion. However, we must also not forget that we are not alone and we do not face all our trouble and worry without the presence of Jesus. Our perspective changes when we sit at the feet of Jesus first and then consider all that ails us.
Praying hands are better than wringing hands. Worship is better than worry. Devotion is the only cure for the distraction of our trouble and worry.
The world still might seem like a fight, but at least it's a tag team. Thank you Jesus.
Trouble... worry, worry, worry, worry. There is so much trouble in the world. Watching the news is like a fight, duck and punch. That one missed us, but here comes another one, and another, and another. We punch and we punch, but the fight never seems to be over.
Terrorism and random violent assaults on police and military. ISIS. Ebola. Economics. Racism. Just in my own neighborhood this week, a streak of burglaries and home invasions. It never stops. Duck, here it comes again.
In our lesson today, Martha is frustrated with Jesus and her sister Mary who seem not to care about all the trouble and worry she feels. Mary simply sits at the feet of Jesus. “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me,” says Martha.
Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.” While Martha fights alone, Mary has chosen to depend on Jesus and to live fully in the presence of the Lord.
There are many, many things for us to worry about. There are things that demand our attention, and we should and must pay attention to them. This is no calling to just abandon the world and to retreat into isolation and seclusion. However, we must also not forget that we are not alone and we do not face all our trouble and worry without the presence of Jesus. Our perspective changes when we sit at the feet of Jesus first and then consider all that ails us.
Praying hands are better than wringing hands. Worship is better than worry. Devotion is the only cure for the distraction of our trouble and worry.
The world still might seem like a fight, but at least it's a tag team. Thank you Jesus.
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