Lenten Reflection #2:Time with Jesus

38 Jesus and his disciples went on their way. Jesus came to a village where a woman named Martha lived. She welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary. Mary sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was busy with all the things that had to be done. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, my sister has left me to do the work by myself. Don’t you care? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered. “You are worried and upset about many things. 42 But few things are needed. Really, only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better. And it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42

There are many good things that take up our time.  There are many things that we do throughout our day that are necessary and important.  For many people it seems like there is not enough hours in the day to do all of the things that we need to do.  We make list to try to help us be more efficient.  We set reminders on our phones.  Yet it seems that we cant get to everything.  On good days we might achieve most of the things that we feel are important but most days we fail to get to everything and many things are put off to a later day.

Sadly, for many it seems that time with Jesus can get crowded out by all of the busyness of our day.  We can get so filled with important things and needed things that we forget, or lose sight of, what  Jesus says is the only thing that is needed. 

Mary chose to set at the feet of Jesus and listen.  Martha was doing good and important things to provide for Jesus as the guest of her home. Martha, caught up in all of the stuff that must be done for her guest, gets upset at the lack of help from her sister.  Martha doing good stuff crowds out that which is better. When Martha does that bitterness, jealousy and anger creeps in.  

Why is it that we always seem to have a tendency to settle for good when we can have better.  We crowd our days with good stuff when we could have great.  "Only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen something better." 

I have heard it said many times, "Life is about choices."  

As you and I fill our schedules and make our daily list of things to do are we settling for good or are we choosing what is better?  Are we taking time to be with Jesus and to pray and listen? Are we making sure that each day we make time with Jesus a priority?  I think we can tell if we are or not by the state of our hearts and our temperament.  How is our bitterness?  How is our anger?  How is our jealousy?  How about our contentment?  How is our love for and towards others? Are we settling for good rather than great?  Are we letting the good things crowd out the God thing?

Lent invites each of us to set at the feet of Jesus and listen.  Lent invites us to take seriously our relationship with Jesus each and everyday.  Lent invites us to make sure that we are making time to walk with Him and listen to Him every day because it is what is most needed.  Let's make time with Jesus the top of our list and the one thing that does not get put off till tomorrow.

In Christ's love and mine,

Doug