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.
Ann M Moe says
Thank you Pastor Tom Nibbe for your sermon message yesterday about Mary & Martha and Jesus.