How many of you have been struggling with anxiety in recent months? Hmm, about 90%. Those who didn’t raise their hands are too busy worrying about their problems to pay attention. What is your strategy for dealing with anxiety and worry? Sit and try to think it away? Get busy with work? Escape tactics, like eating?
Today we meet an anxious person who talked to Jesus. (Luke 10:38-42).
“Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.’”
Martha was “burdened” with getting things done. Poor Martha. So much to do to get the house ready and food cooked for the big dinner. Poor Martha, she was stuck in doing it all by herself. What made it worse was that her sister was sitting on the floor talking to Jesus instead of sharing the burden. Martha had no one to boss around. Poor Martha. Then, instead of addressing Mary directly, she tries to use Jesus to do her work. She begins by suggesting that Jesus doesn’t care. Then Marth gave Jesus his orders: “Tell her to help me.” Did Jesus come to earth to get entangled in domestic affairs?
“The Lord said to her in reply, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part…”
Jesus explained to Martha how she was feeling—anxious and worried. Is this what God wanted of her? She had an anxiety problem. Did Jesus tell her to work harder? Get on Mary’s case? How did Jesus respond to Martha?
He didn’t get on her case for over-working or tell her to get off Mary’s back. Instead, he spoke to her a principle for good mental health. “There is need for only one thing”. He pointed to her younger sister, and said, in effect: “Learn a lesson from your little sister.” We note also that Jesus called Mary by name, instead of imitating Martha and calling her “your sister.” Mary was first and foremost a child of God with her own vocation in life. Her fundamental identity was not that of being Martha’s little sister, who owed her allegiance to Martha.
Mary had found the secret that every human being longs for—to sit at the feet of Jesus and experience his saving love. She was receiving the gift that Jesus came upon the earth to give. He didn’t come from heaven to improve work efficiency.
Now let’s take a moment to compliment Martha—who by the way is a saint with her own feast day—for talking to Jesus. Though he did not give her the answer she wanted and obey her advice, he gave her something better. He addressed the deep under-lying issue of Martha and gave her a way to resolve it. We wonder how Martha responded to Jesus’ wisdom.
What is our first line of response to our anxiety? Is it turning to Jesus with our fears and complaints? Does seeking out Jesus come first, or do we lose it as a last resort, when everything else seems to fail?
Another reminder, today, to seek out Jesus in all things, especially when we are struggling with anxiety and worry.
“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it” (Luke 11:28).
