Sunday, July 22, 2007

Sermon-Proper C11-July 22, 2007
One Thing is Necessary
The Cloud of Unknowing, "O God, our great companion, lead us ever more deeply into the mystery of your life and ours, that we may be faithful interpreters of Life to each other, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."
About 18 years ago a bunch of us from Trinity went to Florida to attend a conference on how to grow your ministry. The leader of the conference was an Episcopal priest named Bill Atwood. He had 7 principles that he wanted to teach us that were absolutely necessary if your church was going to grow. One of them was, “find ways to say yes”. That meant that most of the time we are supposed to be affirming ideas. Looking for ways to make them happen-not finding reasons that they won’t work.
But one of the chief principles for growth Bill took from Stephen Covey-Keep the main thing, the main thing (actually Covey’s quote is, The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.). Atwood was convinced that most churches forgot what they were about, and that’s why they died.
Every time I hear this gospel story, two things happen for me: I feel guilty because I always like Martha better; and two I remember Bill Atwood and that conference in Florida. And I think of those principles.
In every church there are lots of “Marthas”. What’s a Martha? There are so many Martha guilds around. These are groups (almost always women) who are devoted to good works. How does Martha come out in today’s gospel? SHE IS NOT A ROLE MODEL!
For centuries if you really wanted to put someone down in the church , you simply shook your head, and in your best condescending way, you say: "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things…”. And that’s how we make people feel small and unfaithful. The lesson that almost everyone takes from today’s gospel is this: it is better to sit at the Lord’s feet-than it is be a servant. In the battle between simply Being with Jesus or doing like Jesus, the Be’s have it. Isn’t that what you’ve always thought when you’ve heard this story? We were at the Fire Chaplains training program in April in Indianapolis and they were talking about the personality of the firefighter; The instructor said,
That firefighters get bored easily , “ESPECIALLY IN CHURCH.” He said, “never try to use Mary and Martha as your example with firefighters-they will always think that Jesus chose the wrong one.”
Martha-action, Mary sitting, waiting, listening. Whenever I hear this gospel, that is always what I think.
Do you remember the gospel from last week? IT WAS THE STORY OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN. When you hear Jesus teaching about taking care of your neighbor, do you hear him saying, “boy this Samaritan, he should have sat down and just waited?” We have to keep in mind the stories before and after the one we’re hearing.
Jesus has been spending the whole 10th chapter of Luke teaching about ministry, about discipleship. The first story (2 weeks ago) is the sending out of the 70. Then the story last week of the good Samaritan. And now Martha and Mary. The key is to see the connections between these 3. Because Luke the gospel writer wants us to understand that ministry is about all 3 stories-it’s not just about evangelism, it’s not just about caring for our neighbor, and it’s not just about sitting and listening. It’s about “keeping the main thing, the main thing.”
Martha was a good host. Hospitality was just emphasized, stressed, accentuated in last week’s story about the Good Samaritan, right? That makes today’s story even more important. Jesus is making sure that the disciples don’t think it’s only about being sent out, or only about taking care of one’s neighbor-Jesus is trying to teach them-and us-that how easy it is to lose sight of the main thing. Martha, “you’re distracted” “Martha, you are worried”. Martha, you’re losing sight of what is important. John, I hear him saying, you’re getting sidetracked.
Two weeks ago, the disciples thought what was important was a show of power; last week, the young lawyer thought the main thing was knowing the laws; Martha’s main thing was taking care of her guest. Each week Jesus redefines, re explains the previous story. This time he’s saying, it’s not all about what you do. It’s about doing the one thing that is needed-the main thing. At this moment, Jesus is telling Mary, it’s about listening and learning. They’ll be time for hospitality later. In a sense this story is about the struggle between worrying and waiting. Two things that test our faith. I wish I had a nickel for every time someone has told me not worry, and instead to have faith. Telling someone not to worry, is like saying, “don’t think about elephants.”
Here’s what I try to say to myself instead, when I start getting overwhelmed with worry: keep the main thing the main thing. One thing is necessary. It’s sometimes the hardest thing there is to do. To wait. To sit. To listen. Sometimes the main thing is to show hospitality. Sometimes the main thing is to go out and spread the word. The test isn’t to always do the same thing, the challenge is to figure our what is needed. And then to do that. Can you say this, to yourself? John, John, one thing is necessary-keep the main thing, the main thing.
Amen.



Luke 10:38-42
10:38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.
10:39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying.
10:40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me."
10:41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things;
10:42 there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."