The Importance of Choosing the "Good Part"

When Jesus visited the home of Martha, Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet while he shared the word with the other guests. Martha was left to prepare the meal without any help. I imagine the longer she worked, the angrier and more upset she became. After a while, she asked Jesus to suggest to Mary that it was time for her to help in the kitchen.

However, Jesus told her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled by many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the Good Part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Many of us can understand Martha's frustration when she was left to do all the work. Sometimes, in small membership churches, we get saddled with a job that nobody else is willing to help with, and there are no term limits; we are stuck for life.

When the shrinking number of members and giving in the small membership church, we become anxious and troubled.

When the congregation's average age is close to 70, and the sound of children's voices is not heard during Sunday morning worship, we become anxious and troubled.

We become anxious and troubled when we haven't had new people come to our church in years, and we get angry because our neighbors see no need for attending church.

When we become anxious and troubled, we begin to act like Martha. We start praying that God will send us members who will help us pay the bills and keep the lights on, families who bring their children to church instead of sleeping in or doing other activities because we need the numbers.

I wonder, what Jesus would think of our anxious and troubled spirits? I wonder, has the church become like Martha? Are we so busy maintaining the church that we no longer focus on the “Good Part?”

And then we have to ask, “What is the "Good Part” that Jesus shared with Mary and the others the day he stopped at Martha's house?

The “Good Part” is that Mary's job was not in the kitchen; God loved her. She did not have to be anxious about getting everything done or troubled by what society expected. Jesus called her to the front row. Like Mary, we need to accept Jesus' invitation to the front row, letting go of our anxiety that we won't get everything done or troubled that we are not what society expects us to be.

The “Good Part” is that Mary was forgiven. As a woman, she was not to sit at the Rabbi's feet; that was only for the men. She could learn and grow as a disciple of Jesus. We, too, need to let go of our anxiety that we are wrong and have troubled hearts because we should be doing the “real” rather than the “good part,” that is, listening to Jesus as we worship, pray, and reach out to others. And take time to accept Jesus' forgiveness and share the unconditional forgiveness with our communities.

The “Good Part” is that Mary chose to listen to Jesus and be the disciple he called her to be. She did not have to be anxious and troubled about her life station, age, race, or other ways our society uses to limit who belongs and who does not. We need to let go of the anxious and troubled heart that lurks inside our minds. The places we feel we are unworthy and we have nothing to give. Just as Jesus empowered Mary, Jesus empowered us.

The question is, will we choose the “Good Part?”

Will we let go of our anxieties about what might happen to our church tomorrow? Will we let the worries that trouble our hearts about what we and others should do?

Or will we choose the “Good Part.” Take more time to stop and hear the Good News! We remember what God shared just after Jesus was transfigured, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him!”

There is a time to help in the kitchen, attend board meetings, and other jobs in the church. However, when we are so consumed with anxiety and troubled about what is happening that we forget to listen and be transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we may be like Martha and have chosen the wrong “part.”

May we choose the “Good Part.” May we take time every day to worship, pray, and study God's word. May our church services be filled with the “Good Part” that helps us to focus on God's love and grace for each one of our lives and the lives of those God calls us to serve.