A woman in a church I served claimed that we needed to come to the defense of Martha in this story. After all, she was offering hospitality and needed her sister’s help.

Yet instead of quietly, politely asking her sister to help, Martha turns to the guest and scolds Jesus for not sending Mary her way! Beneath this charming incident that only Luke reports, there are two kinds of dispositions. Martha is the impulsive type, quick to help another right away; Mary is open, receptive, needing time with Jesus before she does anything else.

There comes a time to move from the feet of Jesus to share more widely, as the Gadarene demoniac of a few chapters before. However, beware of the Martha in you who has no time to be at the feet of Jesus—being first fed by the one whom she will later serve. If you never rest and listen at Jesus’s feet, what good is it wherever else you go?

Luke 10:38–42

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Choosing first to be with You v. 42

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
In year C, we generally read from the Gospel of St. Luke.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.