Changi Chapel

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked "Lord don’t you care that my sister has left me to do work by myself? Tell her to help". Luke 10:40

Work, at home or away, offers us a fair number of opportunities to indulge in resentment. There is usually something or someone to complain about, if we look hard enough. Jesus stopped off in the house of Martha and Mary and triggered classic domestic tension.

Actually some of us would prefer to be Martha any day – rather bustle than sit and listen to challenging teaching; rather do the washing up than produce an arresting paragraph; rather be a postman than a poet.

There’s stress in thinking, having to shape articles for tight schedules, or work on designs or lesson plans. There’s something restful in deleting files, emptying the dishwasher, or in any of the other daily tasks that can be done without thinking.

But while doing the washing up or sorting out the stationery cupboard, we want others to notice us and feel bad that they are not helping. Self-righteousness can overtake us too easily.

May we all be open to rebuke from the Lord, as well as from others.

Margaret Killingray
London Institute for Contemporary Christianity
London, UK

© Margaret Killingray