Thomas Nibbe Sermon: Mary, Martha and Vince Lombardi

The Rev. Thomas Nibbe

Holy Cross Lutheran Church

1165 Seville Drive 

Pacifica, California

The gospel lesson for today takes place in a village 

where a woman named Martha welcomed Jesus into

her home.  Martha had a sister named Mary.  Later

to be a focal point of Scripture, their brother, Lazarus, 

is not mentioned in this section of Luke’s Gospel.

In the text, Mary stationed herself at Jesus’ feet to

listen to what He had to say.  Meanwhile Martha was busy

in the kitchen, being distracted by the preparations she

had to make to keep Jesus comfortable.  Note, if you will,

that Martha could not have planned better in advance, she

invited Jesus in quite at the moment.  She’s frustrated and

upset.  This is not something she anticipated would happen.

At this point, she approached Jesus with her concern:

“Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do

the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!”

You know, I get it!  If Martha doesn’t get supper ready,

and make the bed over, Jesus will go hungry and have

no clean place to lay His head.  Personally, if I were the

guest, I’d be an unhappy camper.  That would be no fun

at all for me, being the ultimate “creature of comfort”.  

On the other hand, why have Jesus in your home, 

if He wasn’t going to have the opportunity to share His 

divine and practical wisdom in your midst and make 

a contribution to your life—that would stick with you 

forever.  We’re not talking about the difference between

good and evil in this regard, but rather, we’re talking about

what comes first and foremost in life, our priorities, and that

which follows through.

Back in Wisconsin, in the 60s, many locals – in my town of

La Crosse – thought of Coach Vince Lombardi as the father 

of Jesus.  Well, he made it clear, he certainly wasn’t – rather

he considered himself to be a humble disciple of the Master.  

That humility did not – I repeat – did not carry through onto the

football field, through the faith principle did.  As a matter of fact, 

Coach Lombardi did not attend church every Sunday, but 

rather every single day, to receive Holy Communion.  Coach 

was the “Real McCoy”, a true believer.  Being invited to speak 

in his Roman Catholic parish before one of the big Green Bay

games, Lombardi was asked by the priest to speak to the 

people.  He spoke about priorities in life…what’s essential 

and. on the other hand, what’s important, in that order.  

He was fabled as saying:

“Priorities are essential in life.  

God first.  

Family second.  

And the Green Bay Packers third.”  

The congregation rose to their feet in church, shouting in 

affirmation and clapping their hands.  The priest joined in with

the excitement of his people by putting his hands together.

(Wisconsin is a weird place to live in…)

MARTHA AND MARY

When I think about these two women, these two sisters, 

I think about the wonderful women in my own family when 

I was growing up.  Issues, just like this one, would come up 

when we had guests in the house.  In addition, I think about

my own three daughters keenly remembering some of the

dialogue that would take place regarding guests in the house

as they grew up. I’ve witnessed similar Martha-like comments 

like mentioned in the Bible passage – between sisters…

The thought comes to mind that we actually can

do the same…invite Jesus to come and stay…and

He will do so.  The question in my mind is, if we

could imagine it, whose role would you take – in

doing the best we could for our guest…that…

of Martha or of Mary?  I note the difference of

opinion about what hadn’t been done and what

should have been done.  The issue isn’t between

good and evil, but rather of priorities in life…

Ah, yes!  That is the hidden gold underneath it all

in the narrative about Martha and Mary.  Often the

Bible pitch is concerned with distinguishing good

from evil.  In the Martha-Mary account the message

is clearly about our priorities in life.  What is the

dominate consideration for us, first as responsible

people, and the, second, what does the person of

faith do in any number of given situations.  

The Lukan narrative causes us to reflect upon what 

is essential for us in life, and, on the other hand, what 

is important and necessary.  

Both items make their way to the table.

Jesus provides the answer for us.  I hope we don’t

think that Jesus was scolding one of the sisters or the

other, or that He is harsh.  Of the many inflections of

voice that were possible for Jesus to use, I have this

feeling that it was said, so that Martha received “grace”

“grace” in Jesus’ words to her, rather than condemnation.

From verses 41 and 42, “Martha, Martha, you are worried

and upset about many things, but few things are needed—

or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and 

it will not be taken from her.”

 A key word in the text is “better”…there is no evidence

here of Jesus suggesting that Martha has done wrong.

I like that.  “Better” seems so redeeming.  On the other

hand, there is not contest between the comforts of life

and living and the “Living Word”.  Somehow or the other,

making the Lord a priority, we’ll have full stomachs and

firm, but soft mattresses to sleep on and warm blankets 

to sleep under, if we make the Lord a priority of our life.

I truly believe that and know that it’s true.  When that 

happens the food tastes better and the sleeping is sound.

BACK TO LOMBARDI 

Coach Lombardi was absolutely right about many things

in life, a real example to every single person who lived with

him or knew about him.  Over and above that, was Lombardi’s

commitment to the Lord Jesus, to put Christ first in his life.

He had challenge after challenge in his life.   A lot of bad and

disappointing things.  Like Abraham Lincoln, he appeared in the 

early years to be failing at everything, receiving no esteem from 

anybody of note.  People looked down on his Italian background 

and judged him accordingly.  Lombardi persisted with only the 

vision Jesus Christ had given him to carry on…to develop and 

use the gifts he had, rather than focusing on what other people 

thought of him.  His purpose was to please Christ.  In the final 

analysis, Lombardi’s focus upon Jesus caused him to look 

beyond himself to his purpose in life to exemplify Christ within.  

He could be really tough on his players, because he was tough 

on himself, but underneath that, there was that powerful sense

of the love of Christ, that his players, both black and white, 

could clearly recognize.  It was extremely difficult to play under 

Lombardi, but because of that “Christ passion” within him, each 

and every player did not want to disappoint him.  

[Good Lord!  God help you if you did!]  

The relationship between coach and players was supernatural.  

The Packers of the 60s were among the greatest teams in the 

history of the game and the NFL.  To overcome and to win, 

priorities came first.  To me this has always been the way to 

deal with the uncertainties and disappointments of life.  It has 

been the way to be a success in life.  Not to strive to be great 

and to have fame and fortune, but to honor God in your life 

by making Jesus your priority.  So glad for the way Dr. Luke 

causes us to think about that in the story of Martha and Mary.