Luke 10:38-42 - What
Jesus Saw In Martha
Proper 11 - Mary and Martha
Some years ago, The Archbishop of Canterbury was rushing to catch a train in
London. In his haste, he accidentally jumped on the wrong passenger car and
found himself on a car full of inmates from a mental hospital. They were all
dressed in mental hospital clothing.
Just as the train pulled out of the station, an orderly came in and began to
count the inmates, "1-2-3-4…" when suddenly he saw this distinguished looking
gentleman there wearing a business suit and a clerical collar and he said:
"Who are you?" The answer came back: "I am the Archbishop of Canterbury!" And
the orderly said: "5-6-7-8."
The point of that story is this: It is so important to know who we are and who
other people are. If we know what makes us tick and what makes other people
tick, we get along better. If we understand where we are coming from and where
other people are coming from, we relate better. There is more compassion, more
empathy and more kindness. When Jesus looked at Martha that day in that
emotional scene, he saw some red flags, some warning signals, some danger signs,
some destructive attitudes within her which were more harmful to Martha herself
than to anyone else. Jesus loved Martha. They were good friends and that day, he
saw in her some hurtful attitudes that were working in her like spiritual
poisons, petty attitudes, which can devastate and destroy the soul.
Let's look at these dangerous attitudes which were in Martha. We may find
ourselves or someone we know somewhere between the lines. When Jesus looked at
Martha that day, he saw deep down inside of her the dangerous attitude of...
Resentment
Narrowness
Unkindness
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