Scripture: 10.38 Now as they went on their way, he [Jesus] entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. 40But 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.’ 41But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’ (Luke 10:38-end)ReflectionBoth Mary and Martha loved Jesus. Apart from being devout followers of Jesus, he had also brought their brother, Lazarius, back to life; they loved Jesus, they cared for him. They were both serving Jesus that day, just in very different ways. Mary was sitting listening to Jesus; Martha was busy, busy, busy doing things for Jesus. And Jesus says to Martha, that Mary has chosen the better thing to do; which, on first reading, sounds a bit harsh! Jesus doesn’t blame Martha for being really concerned about all the household chores – after all, they need doing; they are important. All he is asking her to do is to consider her priorities. She hadn’t realised that in her desire to serve – by “doing” – she has forgotten to just “be” and listen to Jesus. Are you so busy doing things for Jesus that you are neglecting spending time with Jesus? Revd David
Scripture: The Good Samaritan 'A lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘’Teacher’, he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus replied ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ He answered ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.’ And Jesus said to him ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’ But wanting to justify himself the lawyer said to Jesus ‘And who is my neighbour?’ (Luke 10.25-29)Reflection:The question comes from a lawyer, professionally concerned with all the minutiae of the law. His question seems to imply that if an individual does not qualify as a neighbour in the eyes of the law we are not compelled to ‘love him as ourself’. Jesus does not give a direct answer. Instead he tells a story about a traveller who is mugged on a lonely road, stripped, robbed, beaten up and left for dead. Two people pass that way, people of his own nationality and faith, but for good reasons of their own (fear of being attacked themselves, haste, risk of pollution?) they hurry on past him. The man who stops and takes care of the victim is of a different faith and culture, a despised Samaritan. Definitely not to be regarded as ‘one of us’. As Christians we are called to reflect God’s love for us in love and service to all those we encounter, without prejudice of culture, gender, ethnicity, religion or social standing. Work out the implications for yourself, says Jesus, not only to the lawyer but to you and me. ‘Go’, he says, ‘and do likewise’. Revd Rosemary
