July 13, 2025 Sermon
Guest Preacher: Rev. Drakar Druella
Sermon Title: “Present with Jesus”
Scripture: Luke 10:38-42
Luke 10:38-42
Jesus Visits Martha and Mary
38Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. 40But 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.” 41But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”
In this scripture, Jesus enters into a village where a woman named Martha welcomes Him into her home. Martha is a diligent and hospitable woman, known for her service and keen attention to detail. Not only that, Martha’s home is a cozy and inviting space where Jesus and his disciples are warmly welcomed. Along with Martha, her sister Mary is also present in the scene. Contrary to her sister’s approach, though, Mary is characterized by her desire to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His teachings.
So, I would like to stop here to briefly interject and say that this scripture used to genuinely frustrate me. I’ve always been the person who enjoys preparing things for guests and keeping busy cooking in the kitchen when they come over. I’ve also always been the responsible and detail-oriented type who likes to get things done. Having a warm and hospitable environment for guests is certainly a worthy endeavor in my book. In this scripture, I used to think that Martha was under-appreciated and that Mary could have helped her out a little bit. After all, with a little help, perhaps Martha would have felt more relaxed about spending some time at Jesus’ feet and everything would still get done. I mean, let’s get real here. Dinner isn’t gonna cook itself nor is the house gonna clean itself, right? And somebody needs to greet the guests, get them seated, and wait on them a bit!
But when we dive beneath the surface of this scripture and its meaning, we discover that this is about more than fulfilling responsibilities versus choosing to eschew them in favor of spiritual endeavors. It isn’t about just staring at our navels and contemplating the meaning of life at the exclusion of dealing with reality and getting things done. And it isn’t about whether to appreciate Martha for all of the work she does or not. The simple truth is that Jesus was making an important point to Martha about balancing her priorities in the moment. He was inviting her to pause her activities at hand for the moment and to sit at his feet, too. The meal could wait. There would be no harm in eating a little later, and maybe Mary could help her out later, too. After all, who would want to miss the opportunity to sit at the feet of Jesus and experience his wisdom? Think about it: Martha was so completely preoccupied with getting things done that she was missing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sit at Jesus’ feet and to literally hear the word of God from God incarnate, himself! When it is viewed from that perspective, it takes on another meaning.
Beyond just prioritizing in the moment, this scripture is about what we prioritize and why. The overarching theme is about prioritizing spiritual growth and reflection over worldly distractions and busyness. Martha’s preoccupation with numerous tasks is symbolic of our human nature to get caught up in the demands and worries of daily life. These demands, if we allow them, can distract us from cultivating a more deep and personal relationship with God. This verse encourages us to pause and reflect on our own priorities by contrasting Mary’s contemplative posture with Martha’s frenzy of activity. This scripture also invites us to ask ourselves if we are too consumed with the busy tasks of life to make time for spiritual nourishment and growth. Are we prioritizing material concerns over the deeper matters of the soul?
This verse ultimately challenges us to take a deep look at how we allocate our time and energy and to consider whether we are truly investing in our spiritual well-being and connection with the divine. It underscores the importance of balancing outward responsibilities with inner reflection and seeking spiritual fulfillment as a cornerstone of a meaningful and purposeful life. Ultimately, it is about the balance between our outer responsibilities and our inner spiritual responsibility to ourselves that we take in life. The key lies in how our lives are spiritually balanced and prioritized.
When Jesus tells Martha that she doesn’t need to worry so much, he is not telling her that she should not prepare a meal or take care of her guests, nor is he telling her to abandon all concern for others. He is addressing her state of mind and emotional energy in the moment. It is an invitation for her to quiet her mind and allow herself to be more present in the moment with him, because she was missing out on a profound spiritual opportunity by focusing on her busy work. Have you ever tried to sit still, listen and learn something new, when you’re anxious and your mind is racing? For most people, it is a pretty difficult thing to do. We need to have a calm and quiet mind to be able to be present in the moment and focused. This is why so many spiritual traditions emphasize the importance of mindfulness exercises such as meditation or contemplative prayer. These practices are designed to help calm and center us so that we may be more present in the moment to God, others and life in general. Our anxieties and preoccupations can cloud our spiritual focus. They can also overshadow our capacity to be present and listen to others. Jesus acknowledges Martha’s efforts but gently rebukes her for missing the more important aspect of his visit: being present with him.
I remember a cartoon I saw years ago. It portrayed a mother busily taking the laundry out of the dryer and folding it, while her little toddler was sitting behind her. Her toddler starts talking to her and the mother is saying “uh-huh” and “okay,” all while she is busy folding the laundry with her back to the kid. The little boy then says, “Whoe-faze lissen.” The mother stops folding her laundry, turns around and gets down on her knees. Looking directly into her little boy’s eyes with a loving smile on her face, she says, “Okay. I’ll whole-face listen.” It was a sweet cartoon that conveyed a powerful message about being fully present to our children. This is what Mary was doing that day while Martha was busy in the kitchen. She was completely present to Jesus and what he was saying. It was a whole-face-listen moment, and that is precisely what Jesus was inviting Martha to do.
Have you ever been worried or upset about something, then gone to an inspiring movie or a really good concert, only to find that when the movie or concert was over, you felt better? What happened during that movie or concert that led to your feeling so much better? The impact was from more than just how good the movie or music was, even though that certainly helps! What happened was that your mind was so completely focused and present during the movie or concert that you forgot your worries. Not only were you completely present in that moment, but yes, you were also completely present to something positive and uplifting. This is what Mary was doing when she sat at the feet of Jesus. She was so completely present to Jesus and focused on his divine wisdom, that any outside concerns or matters were forgotten. This is the true definition of being spiritually present in the moment, and this is what Jesus was inviting Martha to embrace doing, as well. This is what “whole-face-listen spirituality” is about!
When we let our daily concerns overshadow our relationship with God, we lose the opportunity to be present to life itself. We become distracted and are no longer able to hear divine inspiration. Jesus advises in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” This reinforces the idea that when we prioritize our spiritual lives, everything else falls into place. Similarly, Psalm 27:4 echoes this sentiment: “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.” And what is the house of the Lord? We are the house of the Lord because we can experience this if we allow God into the house of our lives when we take the time to be quiet and reflective. When was the last time you took a moment to sit quietly and listen, truly listen, to God’s voice? You will be amazed at how much things will fall into place when you do this more. Things will get done. Trust me.
It was a little over a month ago when a fellow minister called to ask me if I would speak at their church the following Sunday. I was already scheduled to play music at their church that day, too. Because I was driving when she called and made her request, I neglected to add it in my calendar after I had finished my errands and arrived home. During that week, I had done some spiritual journaling and most of all, the spiritual practice of quieting my mind and being present with God in prayer. By the time it was Sunday, I was very calm and grounded. I was well-prepared musically and ready to go. What I had forgotten was that I was scheduled to speak that day on a certain topic.
When the minister announced from the pulpit that I was the scheduled speaker for the service, I calmly thought to myself, “Okay. I guess I’m speaking today.” I had about three minutes to create an outline in my mind of what I would say. In those few moments sitting at the keyboard, I drafted an outline in my mind. When I was called up to the podium, I was completely calm. My heart rate didn’t even elevate, and I gave an entire sermon without a single stammer. I will never forget that. I was so calm and my mind so quiet that I was able to do this. It was an important lesson for me, personally, about being present to the moment with God and the impact it can have on not only my emotional state, but my cognitive state. I had never done that before. Things fall into place, even entire sermons, when we set aside quiet time to be with God. It impacts us.
Today, more than ever, we face a barrage of distractions from our jobs, social media, families, and even well-meaning responsibilities that are not stressful. Whether we are retired or busy working full-time and raising a family, many of us are distracted by life’s obligations, both big and small. We all fall prey to life’s distractions, and carving out time for spiritual reflection and prioritizing a relationship with God is essential to living a balanced and fulfilling life. The story of Martha and Mary serves as a timeless reminder to examine our priorities. Are we like Martha, caught up in the busyness of life, or are we like Mary, setting aside time to seek closeness with Jesus? Let us remember to pause and prioritize our spiritual well-being as we navigate through our responsibilities. Reflecting on this passage encourages us to find balance in our lives, ensuring that while we fulfill our duties, we do not neglect the most important relationship of all—our relationship with God.
We can prioritize Jesus above all distractions by following Mary’s example. Instead of always being caught up in worldly concerns and busyness, we can set aside a little time each day to be in his presence, listening to his teachings through prayer, reading the Bible, and spending time in worship, whether it’s through a walk in nature, listening to spiritual hymns, or watching ducks swim in a pond. We can ensure that Jesus is at the center of our lives, above all other distractions, by intentionally choosing to focus on him and nurturing our relationship with him. It is like the hymn, “Take Time to Be Holy,” says:
1 Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
abide in Him always, and feed on His word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
2 Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
spend much time in secret with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
3 Take time to be holy, let Him be thy guide,
and run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
and, looking to Jesus, still trust in His word.
4 Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.
Always remember this, my friends: when we take time to be present with Jesus, we are taking time to be present with life.
Rev Drakar Druella
