Jesus helps us slow down and take a pause even when the world feels chaotic around us.

Vicar Natalie Summerville
The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, Lect. 16 C
Text: Genesis 18:1-10a; Psalm 15; Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42

Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

All Martha is trying to do is be a good host.

She’s taking care of the people dear to her who showed up at her door. Traveling groups like Jesus and his disciples depended on people like Martha opening their homes and providing food and shelter along their journey. Martha’s hospitality is a lifeline; it’s vital; it’s a good and beautiful act of service; and in this moment, it’s her ministry.

And then Jesus says “Martha, martha, you are worried and distracted by many things.”

After hearing the Good Samaritan last week and Abraham’s story in the first lesson today both featuring men being uplifted for their service, Jesus’ words for Martha are confusing and potentially hurtful. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus makes it abundantly clear–service is a primary way to love God and our neighbors. And especially if we hear Jesus scolding Martha in this text–as we’ve been taught to do over the years by preachers and theologians, majority of them men–then we might feel shame.

Because we can all be like Martha: doing many things–many good things–and becoming overwhelmed by them. Our service to God and to our neighbors alone can make us worry or become distracted–now more than ever. Everyday we read countless headlines about the evil and tragedy in our world, the ways our neighbors are being hurt. And everyday, there’s more and more work to do. We want to work for justice. We want to serve our neighbors, as many as possible. 

The need feels greater than ever before, and that makes us want to serve more people in better ways, to pour out more of ourselves than we ever have–to call our legislators more often, to give more hours to organizations working for justice, to go to more protests. We don’t have time to sit at Jesus’ feet when people are hungry and scared, when we’re worried our neighbors’ human rights are being violated all over the world. We don’t have time to sit at Jesus’ feet when our own day-to-day lives take up so much time and energy or when we’re in the midst of the pain and suffering we all experience in our lives.

Doesn’t Jesus get that?

Today, it’s important for us to know that Jesus recognizes Martha’s service as a beautiful thing, vital to the people on the receiving end of her hospitality. She’s tending to her flock. Jesus is not scolding her.
But Jesus can see the many tasks piling up on Martha, weighing on her heart and mind. Jesus sees his friend distracted, pulled in many directions, as the Greek word suggests, and worried about many things. 

She’s spiraling, her head is far away from her home, and it’s causing her to be stressed out and frustrated, and suddenly she’s upset with her sister. Jesus is trying to bring her back down to earth and give her some peace.

So with a tender voice, Jesus lovingly redirects Martha to pause, as a dear friend would. 
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things.”

Pause. 
Slow down.
Breathe.
Come back down to earth. 
Come be here with me.

And we should hear Jesus’ words for ourselves. Because it’s not our ministry or our desire to do good that’s our problem. It’s when those many good things make us worried and distracted and lead to burnout, anxiety, weariness, when we’re pulled in too many directions and stretched too thin.

And we forget why we do what we do, and who we do it for.
We forget our belovedness.
We don’t see Christ, within us and all around us, and in each neighbor we meet.
We forget that we’re in this life in Christ together, and that we support each other.
And we feel alone, isolated from each other, and we think we have to do the work all by ourselves, in this moment.

That’s where Jesus steps in. Whether through a friend gently reminding you to breathe or take a break, or your body telling you it’s time to slow down, or in the words we hear in this place as we gather together, Jesus interrupts our anxiety, our worry, and our distractions to help us focus on the one thing–dwelling Christ’s presence and seeing Christ all around us, even as we’re living our lives and serving those around us. And as we pause, we let go.

Of the need to do it all.
Of running ourselves ragged.
When we pause, we acknowledge our need for God.

And we make room to take quiet moments listening for God’s voice within us and around us, to pray or read scripture, to be with our community of faith, to get outside and experience God’s love for us in nature, or to do whatever it is that connects us with God and refreshes our spirits. Even if it’s just one short moment dwelling in God’s love in the midst of our busy lives and ministries, God meets us and fills us. 

Our pause makes room for the source of love to remind us that we are beloved beyond anything that we do or any checklist we complete, and God transforms our hearts and our minds–our worry becomes trust. Our distraction becomes focus and listening to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. And our overwhelm becomes a peace that passes all understanding.

And we serve God and our neighbors differently–we realize that it’s God, and not us, who sustains all things–and it’s God that fills our cups so we can pour out into this weary and broken world. So we come to our own ministry and our own lives with our purpose reframed, with fresh eyes and our spirits restored. Because we know our task is to listen and be guided by the holy spirit everyday. 

And the Holy Spirit helps us discern what is today’s ministry, tomorrow’s ministry, and what ministry doesn’t belong to us.

She speaks to us through each other, through our bodies, through our worship. She’s always guiding us. Beloved, listen to the spirit’s nudges to go and serve. And then to pause, rest, listen, and recharge. 

And as we go in peace to love and serve as Christ, like we say every week here at Mount Olive, remember to actually go in peace; and let the God of the universe who holds everything together hold you. Take moments away from all the tasks and the worries, to practice peace, breathe, and let love herself fill you, so you can pour out. Because it is not only okay, but vital and beautiful to pause.

In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.