The Difference Between Mary and Martha

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At the Home of Martha and Mary

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
This is Mary and Martha of Bethany, the sisters of Lazarus.  It was Martha who opened up her home to Jesus and his disciples, and wanted to make sure everything was prepared. On the other hand, her sister Mary sat at Jesus' feet and listened to him.  Understandably Martha was a little upset that her sister had left her to do all the grunt work. She asks Jesus to tell her to get to work But Jesus responds in an interesting way. 
Instead of rebuking Mary for laziness Jesus says, "Martha, Martha you are worried and upset about many things, bur few things are needed or indeed only one." At this point you might be feeling a little bit for Martha.  After all she was the one who invited Jesus to her home and did the work to properly prepare for his visit.  When Jesus says, "Martha, Martha" I don't think he is saying it is a condemning way, but in a compassionate way.  
And so what is the point of the story?  It is not that we shouldn't offer hospitality to our guests.  But Martha was so distracted, she forgot all about the moment.  The moment when the Savior of the world was in her midst.  Mary recognized it and sat at Jesus' feet and hung on to his every word.  
So how might this apply to us?  I don't know about you but when I get too caught up in details, or running around like a madman trying to get ready for an event, I miss the moment.  I miss out on the chance to experience the people who were invited, which was the purpose of the event. I wonder when we worship at church if we are more like Martha than Mary.  We get distracted and forget why we go to church to worship the Lord.  We get distracted by the people around us, or the anxiety we experienced during the week.  
In fact this applies to our everyday life. We can get distracted by the affairs of the world that we forget the one thing that is needful. Jesus says few things are need - indeed only one to sit at his feet and listen to him.  When is the last time you sat at Jesus' feet and REALLY listened to him.  Invite him into your everyday life and enjoy his presence today and forever. 

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