Devotion 

Martha or Mary

Frances Taylor 

The age old question of who's right! There's a commercial for an automobile company that uses the slogan of "either/or, or both/and" that I kind of like. Not that I'm supporting the company, but because I believe we sometimes think in an either/or way when it's really important to be a both/and kind of person. In today's gospel, Martha is busy about hospitality and Mary extends hospitality in a quieter manner. We need both, and we need to be both. There are times when we need to be about doing what Jesus tells us to do, but if all we do is "do" and we don't take the time to listen, we just might get it wrong. Mary sits and listens to Jesus while Martha feels overwhelmed with her tasks. When Martha complains, Jesus tells her not to be anxious and worried, and I think that here is the key. When we take the time to sit and listen to Jesus and then move on to follow the will of God, we don't have to be anxious and worried; we can relax in the knowledge that we are doing our best, and that is what is required of us. Jesus doesn't say that what Martha is doing is unimportant; he just seems to imply that she shouldn't be so focused on her work, that she neglects her need for being present and listening. We, too, can be so busy doing that we forget to take the time to pray, to reflect on Scripture, to sit and listen to Jesus. During the sometimes lazy days of summer, let us take advantage of the laziness and just sit in God's presence and reflect on who we are and who we are called to be, so that when the time comes to be busy again, we'll be ready.

Prayer 

Gracious God, you want us to be hospitable and welcoming to all but you also want us to know that listening to you and learning from you is also important. Let us never be so busy that we forget to take time to spend with you. Amen.