Sometimes We Are Too Busy

Today we have the familiar story of Martha and Mary from Luke’s Gospel:

Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’ (Lk. 10: 38-42).

In considering this passage, the Rev. Eugene Peterson, a Presbyterian pastor and professor, the busy-ness that we all experience, and that Martha demonstrates in this passage, is rooted in two things: vanity and laziness. The Rev. Peterson says we are vain and we want to feel important so we make ourselves overly busy to shore up our feelings of self-worth. He also says we are lazy and do not do the work of discerning which tasks are important and should be tackled and which should be refused, so we make ourselves overly busy by not prioritizing our work and never saying no.  There is much truth in what the Rev. Peterson says.  When we are busy, we give ourselves permission to neglect the hard work of discernment.  Mary takes the time to be still, to sit in the presence of God, and to listen to His voice.  Perhaps we should take time to do the same.

Let us pray:  Gracious God, grant that when we hear Jesus’ voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

THE SHARING FAITH DINNER AT ST. AUGUSTINE’S WAS A WONDERFUL TIME OF SHARING AND FELLOWSHIP.  THANK YOU TO JIM AND JO BREMER FOR HOSTING AND FOR THE WONDERFUL MEAL.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Sunday is Pentecost!  Wear red.  We will baptize Kensleigh Paige Florence and Jeremiah James Florence.

8 June 2013: Gospel by the Sea.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

Your servant in Christ,

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550