Sermon - 8 after Pentecost "the journey begins at Jesus' feet"

Sermon – 8th after Pentecost
Luke 10:38-42
July 18, 2010
Journey with Jesus sermon series part 4
“the journey begins at Jesus’ feet”

Worry. What do you worry about? There is a lot to be worried about, especially these days.
I’ve been thinking about worry, and the various things I worry about, trying to answer the question: Why do we worry?
The things we worry about are finite things we can’t control, but we sure try to.

In today’s gospel it appears Martha is doing the right thing, and her sister Mary won’t help her, she is at the feet of Jesus, listening to him.
Actually Mary, Jesus says, is doing the right thing, while Martha is “worried and distracted by many things.”
So what is Martha worried about and distracted by? She was performing the duty that was expected at this time of women (Mary’s on the other hand was contrary to the social norms). We also do this. We anxiously try to fulfill societies norms. Our actions tend to be dictated by the expectations of society and others. Our inability at times to fulfill those expectations may be a source of worry and stress.
We tend to be worried about what others expect of us – sometimes too much.
She is concerned about a finite task … while the infinite divine of Jesus is right in front of her.

We continue on this “Journey with Jesus” series, and continue on our way with Jesus to Jerusalem in Luke’s gospel. From the very beginning Jesus advised absolute focus and warned against distractions.
This is what discipleship is, and what it really means to follow Jesus. In Luke 6:46 we hear discipleship defined as hearing and then doing.
The difference between the behavior of Mary and Martha that Jesus expresses is that on the one hand, Martha’s service comes from the expectations of others, and that’s why she is anxious and worried.
But, our service should rather be grounded like Mary’s at the feet of Jesus, listening to his word – and then doing it.
Our journey begins at Jesus’ feet.
Jesus says: There is need of only ONE thing – and if we can focus on the ONE thing, then all the other things get put into perspective. Everything else is finite, it will come to an end. So we should take our anxiety and worries to the One who is eternal. We thereby relinquish our need to control, and give it over to God (who is ultimately in control)

In the busyness and worries of our daily life Jesus says:
“_____ (insert your name), you are worried and distracted by many things…there is need of only ONE thing.”
Jesus comes into our houses, daily life, in the midst of our frantic worries and distractions; and reminds us that there is need of only one thing.
May we as disciples sit at his feet and listen to him, and then do it. Amen.