Sunday, July 17, 2022
/Proper 11
Amos 8:1-12; Colossians 1:25-28; Luke 38-42
The Rev. Jeff Bohanski
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Martha, Martha, Martha. Poor worried Martha. I feel sorry for her. I can relate to her. I am grateful for her. In today’s Gospel Mary is the good one who Jesus praises. Mary is the one who biblical scholars give credit to as the one Jesus uses to upend conventional thinking about roles of men and women in society. Rules he wants changed in the new kingdom he is ushering in. Good for Mary! Amen!
But this morning I want to ponder Martha. A few weeks ago, we heard Jesus tell the ones he sent out to eat what was set before them when they entered a town that welcomed them. It seems to me Martha, was doing just that. Martha was lovingly welcoming Jesus by her diligently preparing food and working hard so it would be set out beautifully. I like to think Martha may have known some of these foods were Jesus’ favorites. But poor worried Martha got so caught up with doing things right that she forgot why she was doing what she was doing even though Jesus was there! I’m sure she never expected to hear Jesus say what he said when she appealed to him for help. “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”
In June, I was fortunate enough to travel to Alaska and spend a few days with my niece who had just finished her first year of teaching in the Anchorage School District.
During my time there we booked a helicopter excursion to the top of a glacier. The pilot was a friend of a friend of my niece’s, so we had personal connection with him. On our flight up to the top of glacier I asked him about what he has noticed about the people he takes on these flights. I found his answer quite interesting. He said he found lots of people come up here and take lots of pictures. He went on to say that picture taking is good, for he too was an amateur photographer, but it seemed to him that people get so caught up in taking their pictures of these phenomenal views, that they forget to take the time to feel the experience of standing on a 200-foot-thick glacier in June with a cold wind blowing over the ice. As we landed, I promised myself I would, indeed take time to feel the experience of being on this glacier in June. I promised myself I would be fully present. I would see and feel God in God’s creation.
After putting on gear and listening to a quick orientation about how to walk on a glacier, I began taking pictures. I took pictures of my niece scampering on the ice, the helicopter, a gorgeous pool of crystal-clear water, the actual ice of the glacier, the mountains on both sides of the glacier, and views up and down the glacier. I was so very happy and proud of my amazing pictures. I remember thinking how great it was that I had this opportunity to take these pictures that I would have forever.
That’s when it occurred to me, I was doing the same thing as all the other passengers the pilot had talked about. I wasn’t taking time to take in what was before me. I wasn’t experiencing God’s magnificent creation. So, I stopped taking pictures. I put my phone in my pocket and I looked around, and I listened, I breathed in the fresh cold June air atop that glacier and experienced that environment. It was Amazing!
As I turned to take in another view, I saw my beautiful niece crouch down and collect two bottles of glacier water from the pool of melted ice. I noticed as she stood up, she had the most astounding joyous smile I had ever seen. Now, I have felt joy before, but after seeing my niece in that moment, I now know what joy looks like. I will forever be grateful for the chance I had to witness my beautiful, brilliant, and brave niece, who at one time I held as a baby, being filled with joy. I know if I had not stopped my busy picture taking, I would have missed the joy that was right in front of me, the joy in my niece’s face.
People of Saint Andrews, I fully believe Martha was preparing food for Jesus out of love. Unfortunately, in her need for wanting to do things right she forgot and almost missed the joy that was right before her, Jesus, Emanuel. I’ve often wondered how Martha could have done this, but after my experience on that glacier I now understand.
In a few minutes we will recite the Nicene Creed. We will say together the words, “We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, the maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.” I invite you this week to learn from Martha and me. Look for God. Look for God in all God’s creation. I invite you to stop for a moment in the good busy things you are doing and be present to God. Feel God’s presence in what you are doing. Look for God in the person who is near you. Pray for that person. Look for God in yourself, because like both Martha and Mary, Jesus wants to come and dwell with you where you are today. Say yes to God’s love as you are in that moment. I invite you to look at the world around you. Ask yourself where you see God. Give thanks for that.
Perhaps you are in a time of life where you don’t especially feel God’s love. I ask you to trust me. God loves you for who you are today. Invite God into what you are feeling.
Finally, I am grateful for Martha. I have come to believe that credit should go to Martha because Jesus uses Martha to show us how to love God. Martha reminds us to ask the question, where is God in this moment? Be mindful, feel God’s presence. Amen.