Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus continually serving others, whether it be through healing the sick, feeding the hungry, or teaching the masses. Jesus’ entire life was marked by service, and He ultimately laid down His life on the cross as the ultimate act of service for humanity.
When we serve others, we are not only meeting their needs but also growing in our relationship with God. Service is an opportunity to put our faith into action and to grow in our understanding of God’s love and grace. As we serve others, we become more like Jesus, who “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
While we serve, we need to take time to just be present. In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it’s easy to get caught up in doing. We’re often so focused on our tasks, our chores, our jobs, that we forget to simply be. We forget to be present. In the story of Mary and Martha, we see this contrast clearly. Martha is busy with the tasks of hosting, while Mary simply sits at Jesus’ feet, listening to His teachings.
We need to practice being present. This is something that takes time and effort. It’s not something that comes naturally to us. But the more we practice, the easier it becomes. We can practice being present in our daily lives, by focusing on the task at hand, by listening attentively when someone is speaking, by taking time to appreciate the beauty around us. We can practice being present with God, by setting aside time each day to be with Him, to read His word, pray and worship worship.
Jesus commended Mary for choosing what was better: she chose to worship, to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to His words. Something we all need to do living in the times we are. Mary chose to prioritize her relationship with Jesus over her tasks and responsibilities. Jesus said that her choice would not be taken away from her. Worship is a choice, and it’s a choice that has eternal significance.
Title: Christ in the House of Mary and Martha; Date: (ca. 1475-1527); Artist: Cornelis Enghebrechtsz; Building: Rijksmuseum Amsterdam; Object/Function: Painting, panel; City/Town: Amsterdam; Country: Netherlands; Scripture: Luke 10:38-42. Permalink: https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56212. (Use this link to refer back to this image.)
