From Mother Jocelyn

On a recent Sunday, our reading from the Gospel of Luke was the story of Jesus visiting at the home of Mary and Martha. Perhaps you remember it. Mary sits at Jesus’ feet (in the posture of a disciple) listening to him teach. Martha bustles about the house, straightening up and preparing dinner (at least, that is what I suppose she is doing; Luke does not spell it out). She becomes angry that Mary is not helping her and asks Jesus to reprimand Mary. Instead, Jesus tells Martha that “Mary has chosen the better part”. Now what does that mean? Countless numbers of sermons have been preached contrasting the active versus the contemplative life – but that is not really what Jesus is talking about. Other sermons come closer to the mark when they identify Martha’s anxiety as the problem; it gets in the way of her being able to hear Jesus even while she is working. We can all learn a lesson from that. But several commentators whom I read this time around sent me thinking in another direction. Look where this story occurs in Luke’s gospel; pay attention to the context. It comes just after Jesus’ encounter with a lawyer; they have a conversation about keeping the law, the lawyer asks a question about loving your neighbor, and Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. He closes with these words: “Go and do likewise.” Go out and love your neighbor – anyone and everyone with whom you come in contact. Being a disciple, a follower of Christ, involves doing. In the next story (that of Mary and Martha) we learn that being a disciple also involves listening, paying attention to Jesus. We are called to do both – and not to let distractions get in our way.



	The Diocese of East Tennessee is one Church. We are called to love in the name of Jesus Christ and to grow in people and in resources for ministry and for mission. We anticipate miracles, as God works through us!

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