lose the attitude and judge not

Luke 10

I know I've been focusing on the chapter for awhile now, but it is very pertinent to my life and feelings right now.

I've thought a lot about how people compare Mary and Martha. She's so spiritual--she's so lazy. She's so efficient--she's not spiritual enough. Have we spent all this time misunderstanding them. "a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word." Luke 10:38-39 It seems to me that they were both listening to the Master, when Martha realized it was getting time to prepare food. Perhaps this is when her anxiety started. Possibly, she over-reacted, when she became cumbered about. But her dedication to her responsibilities as a hostess and homemaker are not bad in and of themselves. They are a great demonstration of Jesus' command to forget ourselves and serve others. Only she forgot to forget herself.

The problem here is that the comparison of Mary and Martha invite us to judge them and then each other. The problem with judging another from the outside is we cannot look upon the heart; we don't know the whole story. Personal revelation from God defines personal missions. None of us is perfect, but all of us have a need for understanding, acceptance, and love without judgment.

"The Church is not a place where perfect people gather to say perfect things, or have perfect thoughts, or have perfect feelings. The Church is a place where imperfect people gather to provide encouragement, support, and service to each other as we press on in our journey to return to our Heavenly Gather. Each one of us will travel a different road during this life. Each progresses at a different rate. Temptations that trouble your brother may not challenge you at all Strengths that you possess may seem impossible to another." Joseph Wirthlin, Virtue of Kindness, 28

The story might be more about comparison, judgment, and attitude. That fact that Martha was ticked off with her sister and Jesus told her, hold on there--Mary's worship is just fine. He never said, what you are doing is foolish. He did not compare but only said that Mary had chosen well. That's it. It is not a rebuke to homemakers and other hard workers at all. He accepted both forms of service until Martha began to murmur and then to complain. He condemned her attitude and judgment.