Being Free to Choose the Better Way
Gate Pa – Pentecost 9 2013
Readings:
Hebrew Scripture: Amos 8:1-12
Psalm: Psalm
52
Epistle: Col 1:15-29
Gospel: Luke
10:38-42
What I want to say:
explore this story as being
about how offer hospitality in house church (only kind of church) – who carried
the brunt of that.
can’t be read in isolation
from Jesus actions at last supper
What I want to happen:
what is the good part we are to choose?
The Sermon
1. Introduction:
This is kind gospel reading that can get preacher into lot of
trouble.
need tred
carefully here.
Pauline told story on Tuesday down wellington
where woman
usually very quiet
having listened
to priest talk about need focus Jesus rather than on mundane things like
morning afternoon teas
spoke up
about how she and few others went out every Sunday made morning tea
left end tidy up
what really appreciate help and support
instead pious nonsense
very easy be very patronising towards Martha
all those work as Martha did
truth is our communities fail without them
where are you in this story
what
questions have?
what like to
say Jesus about that?
2. Gospels
before we start, we need to note already head story about
Mary and Martha this year -> from John’s gospel
big
differences
These differences remind us Gospels are NOT history books
books theology
who is Jesus
who is God
who are we
how do we
follow Christ in way of love – Paul describes it
using and reinterpreting stories Jesus
some differences are
where sits
in story
no mention
Lazarus – Martha welcomes Jesus and entourage to her house
no
man about
Mary keeps
her hair hidden and oil away.
John – about
cost oil Mary used and how given to poor.
story heard
today issue is about roles of 2 sisters in providing hospitality
as read need keep in mind all church were house churches
each time
met burden hospitality on house owner
one level
addresses issue – who should carry the burden of that hospitality?
This story understood at whole lot levels
lets explore some of them.
3. 2 Sisters
basic level story of two sisters.
one feels
responsible for providing guests needs
feeling very
annoyed at fact sister is not helping – wants Jesus intervene
sure few you sympathise, both Mary and Martha on that.
very human
situation
4. Stress and Pressure
at another level this is about stress and pressure
language around Martha is one of noise, tumult, uproar
-> impression given is that she is greatly
distracted by her roles
distraction is
blinding her to everything else
two dimensions to this
overwhelmed by anxiety of what is required
damaging
so consumed by task at hand that lose sight bigger picture
here are some examples
seems that we Anglicans can at time get so concerned about
getting words liturgy right and people doing right things at right time
forget liturgy about entering space
where we met by life changing God
we are being
shaped and moulded to be a people join in God’s mission
words and actions not important in
and of themselves
important because they are vehicle by
which God acts
sometimes we get so consumed what happens on Sunday
becomes
measure of parishes life
forget importance
of what happens on Sunday
how shape how live life rest week
remember talking to parishioner at Ngongotaha when first
decided become local shared ministry unit
said so consumed fund raising pay stipend vicar forgotten
what there for
now look be
people mission
too often we keep church going for sake keeping church going
when do that loose sight what church about
God’s mission
become like Martha
Martha so consumed everything right
forgotten point of it was offer hospitality to Jesus
turns out maybe Mary was one truly offering hospitality – by
staying with men and listening.
Not is not to say that what Martha was doing was unimportant
she forgot
why she was doing it
5. Last level at play in this story.
sometimes read this story in terms Martha trying to protect
sister from ridicule and abuse for taking role of man
sitting feet
teacher as disciple
none commentators read suggested this reading
focus instead is on how Jesus accepts her presence and
honours her.
talked a lot about how society Jesus lived clearly divided
people divided
those in and those out
Jesus modelled radical new way of all being in
based on all
being loved by God
all included
in new community – based on God’s undeserved love
rather than dominant
ethnic, social, religious and moral grounds for inclusion or exclusion
Jesus talked about this
modelled it who accepted meals from
modelled it in last supper
remember every time we gather at this
table
all are welcome at God’s table
because all are God’s people
here Jesus goes further
breaks down walls locked people into the roles allowed to
play
Martha saw her role as provider of hospitality who could not
be a disciple
Mary saw her role as disciple who offered hospitality
Jesus honoured that
in doing so frees Mary,
also frees Martha,
and all
disciples from social and religious expectations locked them into certain roles
and certain ways of being.
something models again last supper when he acts as servant
we are all freed to be disciples
we are all freed to be servants
we are all freed to offer hospitality
6. Conclusion
so one way reading this story is hear Jesus rebuke Martha’s focus
of providing hospitality
another reading this story hear Jesus say role of being
disciple included Martha and Mary
not preserve of men
the role of providing hospitality was not Martha’s alone
belonged to whole community
for house churches Luke writing for
clear message that those whose house church met in were not
overly anxious about offering hospitality
join all others prayers, singing
psalms, breaking bread
when take this reading with Jesus other acts
clear
message role hospitality shared by all.
return question
where are you in this story
what
questions have?
what like to
say Jesus about that?
what would you
like to say to the rest of us?
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