6th Sunday after Pentecost

Mary and Martha:
Some of Jesus’ closest friends.

There are many stories about this family that Jesus was very close to.
It was their brother: Lazarus:
That Jesus called out of the tomb.
Only AFTER Mary and Martha screamed, cried, and even blamed Jesus
for the brother’s death.

It was Mary, who anointed Jesus’ feet with extraordinarily costly perfume:
As a precursor to his death.

And here we are today:
With another famous story about Mary and Martha.
But this one might be the one that tugs at us the most.
And it’s likely because it makes the most “real life” sense to us.

So let’s do a quick review.

In this story:
Martha welcomes Jesus and his disciples into their home with generous
hospitality:
The kind of hospitality that we would generally laud:
Preparing and serving a meal for them.

It was likely a lot of work:
And yet Martha’s sister Mary doesn’t lift a finger to help.

Mary is too enthralled with Jesus’ teaching.
She sits with the disciples to drink in his wisdom:
And actually:
She becomes a sort of disciple herself:
Sitting at the feet of Jesus.

It’s a universal kind of story:
Because most of us can see ourselves as one character or another:
At one time or another.

Are you a Martha? With her task-filled worries, and busy-ness?

Or Mary: Thirsty for the Lord, but slightly oblivious to practical matters?
Most of us have probably played both roles at one time or another.

But this story tugs at us for another reason too.
Sure: Martha was anxious and distracted with supper to get on the table,
And all the cleaning up afterward.

But many of us can’t help but feel a bit sorry for Martha.
Because without Martha’s fussing:
There wouldn’t be anything on the dinner table for the disciples to gather
around and listen to Jesus’ teaching.

The stuff that Martha is doing:
NEEDS to get done.

But it’s not THE ONLY Thing that needs to be done.

We are, indeed:
Called to be servants like Martha:
To welcome, feed, clean, and serve.

And all of that is good.

But the REASON we’re called to be servants:
Is because it’s a part of our call as DISCIPLES.

Our service is merely Good Works:
If it doesn’t flow out of our primary call to be disciples.

Let me put it another way:
All disciples are servants.
But not all who serve are disciples.

As Christians:
As followers of Jesus:
It’s our call to be full blown disciples.

Meaning that all of our service:
All of our good works:
All of our kindness:

Is rooted in sitting at the feet of Jesus and following his teachings.

And it’s not lost on me that we should get this reading today:
On the very day that we are hosting:
Feeding:
And serving the 2025 Love Journey as they kick off their own week of
service across Wisconsin.

Many of us at St. John’s have played “Martha” in the days (and even
weeks!)
Leading up to the Love Journey’s arrival and overnight here.

We’ve cleaned:
Cooked,
Prepared:
Gathered:
All to serve YOU amazing humans:
Heading out on an amazing journey.

And you amazing humans:
Will also get the opportunity to play “Martha” this week:

As you travel around the diocese:
Offering your love and your service:
Doing various projects across the state.

You’ll also get the chance to play “Mary.”

(Remember the Gospel text tells us that Mary “Sat at the Lord’s feet and
listened to what he was saying.”)

As you travel this week:
You’ll have the opportunity to listen:
To learn about some of the churches in our diocese:
And hear of their histories.

You’ll have the opportunity to
“sit at the feet of Jesus”
As you worship, and sing, and pray together.

And I hope that you’ll let those moments of prayerful discipleship:
NOURISH your service:

And feed your soul:
As disciples who will also go out to serve.

But let me be QUITE CLEAR.
I’m not just saying this for our friends who are here visiting today.

I’m saying this for all of us.

Think about it.
There are ZILLIONS of wonderful:
Excellent service organizations in our world today.

Many, MANY, programs and projects doing good things to help others in
crisis or need.

But fewer specific space like this very one that we are gathered in today:
That are purely for the making of disciples.

A table prepared precisely for you to sit at the feet of Jesus:
If only for a short moment.

Too often:
We take a story like Mary and Marthas,
And try to divide it up into who’s right and who’s wrong.
As if there’s a black and white answer.

But please notice that Jesus didn’t cast Martha into outer darkness.
He didn’t tell her she shouldn’t do any work.
He didn’t even ACTUALLY admonish her.

I think he’s really quite gentle. Especially as he says her name twice:
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things.”

Too often:
WE have been the ones to interpret the story vilifying Martha:
In our desperate need to make sense out of Jesus:
And split people into “good and bad” categories.

Martha isn’t the bad guy here:
She’s just missing a piece of discipleship:
That piece that stops working (if for even just a moment)

And breathes in the living God.

So my dear disciples:
Please DO go out into the world in service:
And as you do:
Make sure to take some time to sit at the feet of Jesus:
Whether that’s here:
In this space:
Or some other space:

Breathe in the living God
And then go out in service.

And then do it again.
And again:

Service:
Sit:
Service:
Sit:

Again and again:
Until you finish your course in joy.

Amen.