Sermon Notes/ Doing Time/July 22, 2007

 

We are so filled with the myth that we must stay busy.  The ethic of working hard is taken to extremes and we don’t relax—we keep our selves too busy. We have some internal clock that continually tells us to keep doing something –this is so powerful that we find it hard to relax.  We also pass this problem on to our children as we schedule every hour or every day for them—like we fear them being bored or having to be content on their own.

 

We are so busy that we find it hard to find the time to nurture the relationships with the people we love. Not paying attention to our relationships—our key relationships---leads to separation. By paying attention, I do not mean giving things, paying tuition, or buying a house.  I mean paying attention is nurturing the relationship—caring for the other person—talking to those we love.  We need to be interested in them—not just doing things for them.

 

This morning’s gospel is all of 4 verses.  It is the Mary and Martha story.  It paints a pretty clear picture of the situation—a situation that we all can identify with. Some one is doing the work and some one is lying around. Lord, can you tell Mary to get off her duff and give me a hand with the dishes?

 

What is not clear is Jesus response. Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; ⁴²there is need of only one thing.  Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her. What is Jesus talking about!  Doesn’t he want Mary to do her responsibility?  Is it not fair that Martha is left to do the dishes all by herself. What is Jesus saying?

There is one word in Jesus response that doesn’t make sense or is not supported by other words around it. “Part” Yes, we don’t know what part is—what the whole is.

 

Luke has a style—or pattern, that he makes a statement or has a theme and follows it up with two parables or stories.  One is usually a story about a man, the other involving a woman. This pattern is true in Chapter 10.  Luke’s opening statement or theme is: A lawyer stood up to test Jesus.^* ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ²⁶He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ ²⁷He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ ²⁸And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’ 

 

The next parable, the Good Samaritan answers the question who is my neighbor and how shall I love him. The next story—today’s gospel, involves women that is  describing how to love God.

 

There are two ways of loving God.  One is by service and the other is by nurturing the relationship—listening and being with God. Jesus in his retort to Martha is saying, “Mary is doing the better part of love—by being attentive to the relationship.”

 

Mary is listening.  Mary is being attentive.  Mary is learning.  Mary is growing.  It isn’t that what Martha is doing is not right; it is just not the better part. Jesus is praising Mary for nurturing their relationship.

Jesus is praising Mary for her attentiveness.

This is good spiritual advice, “Pay attention to Jesus.”  Pray, listen, be quieted.

It is also good practical advice for all of our relationships.

We are all too much like Martha.  We are worried about way to many things.

We get into trouble be because we do not relax and pay attention to the things that really matter.

Cats in the Cradle
by Harry Chapin

A child arrived just the other day, He came to the world in the usual way.
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay. He learned to walk while I was away. And he was talking before I knew it, and as he grew,
He'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, dad. You know I'm gonna be like you."

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon, Little boy blue and the man in the moon. "When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when, But we'll get together then. You know we'll have a good time then."

My son turned ten just the other day. He said, "Thanks for the ball, dad, come on let's play. Can you teach me to throw?" I said, "Not today, I got a lot to do." He said, "That's ok." And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed,
Said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah. You know I'm gonna be like him."

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon, Little boy blue and the man in the moon. "When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when, But we'll get together then. You know we'll have a good time then."

Well, he came from college just the other day, So much like a man I just had to say,
"Son, I'm proud of you. Can you sit for a while?" He shook his head, and he said with a smile, "What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys. See you later. Can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon, Little boy blue and the man in the moon. "When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when, But we'll get together then, dad. You know we'll have a good time then."

I've long since retired and my son's moved away. I called him up just the other day.
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind." He said, "I'd love to, dad, if I could find the time. You see, my new job's a hassle, and the kid's got the flu, But it's sure nice talking to you, dad. It's been sure nice talking to you."
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me,
He'd grown up just like me. My boy was just like me.