“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” You and I have heard many sermons on these words that say something to the effect that prayer is better than work. Mary is taken as a symbol of prayer sitting at the feet of Jesus while Martha works away. That has the effect of making all the “marthas” out there feel bad. But is that in fact what “the better part” is? Might it be that the better part is giving the gifted that the receiver needs instead of the gift you feel comfortable giving? Eventually Jesus would want to eat (he loved table fellowship) but now he just wanted to be with his friends.
JULY292017
By Church Staff
