Can you imagine the nerve it would take to ask Jesus, “Lord, do you not care…” (Luke 10:40)? But according to Luke those are Martha’s exact words. Martha’s sister, Mary, has left her with all the housework. “Lord, do you not care…?” She’s being manipulative and rude to Jesus, and not at all the good hostess. “Lord, do you not care…?” Before we get too indignant of Martha, however, we should think about all the times that we use exactly the same words. “Lord, do you not care” that things are not going our way, that our team is losing, that we don’t have the latest fashions or the most expensive car, that we live in a less-than-perfect-neighborhood, that our kids need braces, that we aren’t getting promoted fast enough? Why can’t you do things our way, Jesus? “Lord, do you not care…?”
Of course Jesus cares! He cared enough to die for our sins. But that doesn’t mean that Jesus embraces every human whim, every sinful desire as appropriate. If Martha had stopped for a moment and assessed the situation properly she might have understood. According to Luke, Jesus was teaching, sharing God’s word and God’s truth with all who would listen. The real question that the text poses is: Martha do YOU not care? Will you not let go of all the things that crowd your mind and instead listen to what Jesus has to say? Will you not seek God’s direction in your life instead of telling God where you should go? Will you not set your ego aside long enough to see that you are part of a larger family, a community of faith that offers hope and love to its members?
Yes, Martha, Jesus does care, more than you know. And that is something all of us need to hear and to believe.
Prayer: Lord, help us to set aside the minor things that worry us and focus instead on the grace and truth that you offer. In Jesus name. Amen.
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