Have you got your life into perspective?

GETTING LIFE IN PERSPECTIVE

Lk. 10:38-42

Today Jesus teaches us the lesson of getting life in perspective. We don’t know how He came to know Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus, but having good friends like them who lived so near Jerusalem, was a good bonus for Jesus.  He and His Apostles often travelled from Galilee to Judea and there were benefits both for Jesus and His men and this family.  It meant that after a long journey on foot He could stop for a while and receive rest and refreshment before going on to Jerusalem which was only about three miles away and the family could benefit from the presence of Jesus. 

Our Gospel story today tells of one of those casual visits of Jesus to the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus.  John tells us in his Gospel that Jesus loved them very dearly.  None of them seemed to be married.  Perhaps Lazarus suffered from poor health.  If he did, I’m sure he was well looked after by his two sisters.  Mary was probably the quiet and pensive one.  Martha it seems ran the house and was not afraid to speak her mind.  I’m sure the three of them looked forward to Jesus’ visits, just as He looked forward to being with them.

You can tell how familiar Martha was with Jesus because she was not afraid to speak her mind when she could have done with her sister helping her in the kitchen.  She wanted to give Jesus a really good meal.  Surely Mary could see how much she had to do?  Why didn’t she for once stop thinking of herself and give a hand?  At last she snapped and she said to Jesus, “Lord, do You not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself?  Please tell her to help me.”  What she said could have been interpreted as, “Can’t you see that the most important thing at this moment is what I am doing.”  She had a point.  Mary could have helped her and then both of them could have listened to what Jesus had to tell them.  But Jesus sided with Mary and defended her wish to sit and listen.  It appeared He didn’t want Martha to fuss and bother over Him, a small snack would have been sufficient.

He would prefer it if she like Mary came to join them and spend some time with Him.  When Jesus called her by her name twice, He was gently chiding her.  He was telling her at this moment to put life in perspective.  Jesus is not denying that meals and housework are important, but at this moment the most important thing for her is to drop everything and be with Him.  This is what Mary had chosen and it would not be taken from her.

It is so easy for us to behave like Mary.  There are so many things to fit into each day.  We dash around, behaving as if we are doing all the work, and no one else seems to lift a finger.  Occasionally we let everyone know.  What we do may be very good and valuable work, but our moaning, miserable attitude can spoil what we are doing and it keeps others on edge.  So often it is not what we do that matters, but the spirit in which we do it.

Is Jesus saying to us today, “Get life in its proper perspective?  At the beginning of each day, set aside quality time for Me.  Speak to Me and share with Me all you have to do today.  Then listen to what I have to say to you.  You can be certain that what I have to say to you is more important than what you have to say to Me.  Those moments spent in My company will not be a waste of time.  They can give quality to what you have to do.  Working for Me and with Me can help you to get through whatever you have to do this day.  The more you learn to discuss your day, your work with Me the more you will be able to remove all stress and tension from your life.  You can go about your work calmly and purposefully.  It will surely make you a more pleasant person to live with, others will love you, and perhaps you may be the instrument of drawing others to Me.  So, it is important to get life in perspective.”

Lord Jesus, from this story may we remember that giving time to You in prayer is by far the best thing we can do.  All work should be subservient to prayer.

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