The Better Part

It is easy to consider that Martha might have in the beginning been sitting alongside of Mary at the feet of Jesus.  (Luke 10:38)  After the Word speaks of Mary sitting and listening at the feet of Jesus, it goes on to say, "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.' "  (Luke 10:40)  What we know is that distractions can come even when we are sitting still and trying to listen.      

It is certainly possible that Martha started out listening, but her mind kept taking her to a listing of all the things that needed doing.  If such were the case, it is also likely that her ill feelings toward her sister had arisen long before she rose to actually get some of those things done which were keeping her from giving her attention to Jesus.  Of course, it is all just speculation born out of sitting with a  passage too long, but it does point to our own experience.   

Many of us have had those moments when our time with Jesus ended too soon because we could not maintain our focus.  In those moments our spiritual intentions got hijacked by our mind telling us there were things which needed doing.  Like Martha we have suffered from being distracted by the doing when the moment for being was fully upon us.  Hopefully, when it happens, we make a point to choose the better part.