Awake At Last

Meanwhile Mary, Martha’s sister, sat before the Master, hanging on every word He said. Luke 10:40

Mary grew up under Martha’s busy, bustling roof.  She watched Martha run this immaculate household like a tight ship. She heard people admiring Martha’s amazing gift of hospitality. She watched Martha collapse by a dwindling fire at the end of each day, exhausted. 

She also may have realized that no matter what she, Mary, did, it never was quite enough for Martha. Never quite measured up to Martha’s impossible standards.

She tried explaining herself.  She tried helping Martha understand… but, somehow, even there, everything Mary did… everything Mary said…  ended up being insufficient. So, Mary finally gave up…  as if part of Mary, deep deep down went to sleep… as if part of Mary grew deaf to the steady barrage of do's and don'ts, orders and commands, rules and regulations...

I don’t know… I am just speculating…

This day, however, Mary is wide awake. She is at Jesus’ feet, impervious to some puzzled some slashing looks sent her way… She can’t be bribed, coaxed, manipulated or guilted into joining Martha’s three-ring circus.

What is Jesus saying?

Consider the lilies of the field...?

Consider the ravens...?

Your heavenly Father... clothes them... feeds them...?

What is it that Mary is hearing… perhaps for the first time in her entire life?

How much more valuable you are...?