Gathering a Scattered soul (Mary and Martha Story Luke 10)
Our month of May is full of many wonderful events.
A dear family friend is getting married, our daughter is graduating college then moving to another state, we are celebrating our mothers on Sunday, there are two family birthdays this month and our dog Finn is nearly 16 and will probably "graduate" soon.
Phew!
I've been reflecting on my potential to have a soul scattering month but wonder if it's possible to be busy and be grounded by the Holy Spirit?
I’ve been meditating on the story of Mary and Martha in Luke chapter 10. I keep thinking I’ll move on in my reading plan but I have decided to sit and stay with this relevant scene.
Jesus wasn’t confronting a busy lifestyle or coming down hard on Martha for her preparations. Any host would be hustling on that side of the house.
The Rabbi was inviting her in that moment to sit, listen, learn and be loved. Perhaps it was in the mind of Jesus to have time together then all three would go and prepare a meal?
Last week, a certain word from verse 40 jumped off the page: distracted.
“But Martha was distracted with all her preparations…”
This word distracted (perispao in greek) only shows up here in the whole greek New Testament. Perispao is a combination of two words: “drew + about.”
The word-image communicates being pulled or scattered. One scholar has a graphic explanation, "being dragged away on the ground in different directions."
Martha’s heart was seized and pulled away from her center. I totally get that.
Personally, my soul tends toward being pulled apart by various things at the same time when I am on point. I am the one for the well being of kids, the one hosting the party, responsible to navigate grief, and the one who has to maintain okay-ness.
These are not bad things but they can keep me from being present to the Presence of God. Maybe that is what Jesus was doing. "Come to Me all who are weary!"
The Topical Lexicon describes the word “distract” as portraying “a person being pulled or dragged about on every side, resulting in inner agitation and loss of focus. Rather than conveying a simple busyness, it depicts an absorbing preoccupation that diverts attention from what matters most.”
Jesus seems to be playing with words here by describing the invitation to sit with Mary as bringing wholeness to her soul.
“But only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her (v.42).”
Jesus is gentle to gather up the soul of Mary, Martha and me. This intimacy will not be taken from us!
What an explosive reality for this month!
I love that phrase from the Topical Lexicon: “simple busyness.” Could there be a kind of busyness that is grounded in our union with God? Yes.
The path to the Rabbi teaching side of the house is the same path back to the kitchen. In other words, God goes with us.
As Jesus fulfilled his mission on the cross, the Spirit of God entered our inner lives and God even considers our heart His home (John 14:23). Therefore we carry intimacy in every room of our home and every area of our life.
Practically speaking, Ronald Rolheiser’s book Domestic Monastery has been tremendously helpful to view the home as a monastery.
Rolheiser compares how monastic bells call us to prayer... and perhaps our bells are the alarm clock or oven timer (If you have a young family, I highly recommend this book).
In the morning and at night, I will often open two windows in our kitchen and let the wind blow through. I read, pause, stare in the cul-de-sac and then prepare a meal. The wind of Christ's Spirit is here and can simplify my busyness because he is on point and makes my soul whole.
A simple busyness involves staying in the moment with God who is united to our grounded and gathered soul.
A gathered soul:
-takes one day at a time
-believes presence is everything
-rests in less being more
-is able to laugh easily.
As the parts of me return, I sense the ability to rejoice with friends and family. I sense the invitation to be present as our friend Jesus is present to us. May it be true.
Thank you for reading, praying for our family and supporting my work!
Gathered with you in Father, Son and Spirit.