This post, by Doreen Raymer, is a reflection on the “Who Is It For?” sermon as part of the “In the Name of Jesus” sermon series.
Like Elaine, I too have felt sorry for Martha in this story (see Luke 10:38-42)…not only that she’s been left with a heavy job on her own, but that she’s rebuked by Jesus while Mary, who has excused herself from the kitchen in order to sit at Jesus’ feet, is commended. Similarly, I sympathize with the prodigal son’s elder brother. And his father’s answer to his complaint that doesn’t feel completely satisfying.
Elaine went on to say that it wasn’t the ‘calling (be it washing pots or sitting and worshipping), that was being rebuked but the attitude towards that calling. Mary had chosen the better part…not because she preferred to sit-down over hot work in the kitchen, but because she chose to worship Jesus, something that Martha in her distraction, was not doing. And therein was the reason for her being rebuked…that she wasn’t working in the kitchen in the spirit of service to Jesus and his friends. Each of us has a distinct calling, one calling is no better than another’s in itself but all must be tackled in the spirit of serving God through that calling. The analogy that St. Paul gives is that each body part is distinct and necessary and no one part is more important than any other in making the body function as it should. Similarly, we, the members of Walmer Rd., each have a unique calling.
Like Gerry Graham, fixing the wiring, filling in potholes in the parking lot, painting over graffiti on the walls…in order to bring the building up to par for the insurance company…his skills are just as necessary as the prayer team who commit to upholding the causes raised in our book of concern each week. They aren’t in competition…one shouldn’t be judged more important than the other. But Gerry and the prayer team (and all of us) can be judged in so far as our willingness to offer our service in response to a calling, as a gift of service.