MARY’S FOOD

Lk.10:38,39 – Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.

Mary and Martha could not have been more different from one another, Martha was all about serving and taking care of everyone, Mary just wanted to sit at the feet of Jesus. Martha seemed to be a little stressed at the situation trying to impose her passion and gifting for serving on Mary, Mary was content to just sit near Jesus to be with Him and soak in all of this teaching that she could. Jesus reinforced Mary’s decision that day when He told Martha to leave Mary alone because she had chosen the best part.

Apparently there were two meals being served that day and both were necessary. Martha was all about hospitality and serving a great meal, Mary was about feasting on the Lord. Here is how Augustine describes Mary’s choice.

“What was Mary enjoying while she was listening? What was she eating? What was she drinking? Do you know? Let’s ask the Lord, who keeps such a splendid table for his own people, let’s ask him. “Blessed,” he says, “are those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, because they shall be satisfied.” It was from this wellspring, from this storehouse of justice, that Mary, seated at the Lord’s feet, was in her hunger receiving some crumbs. You see, the Lord was giving her then as much as she was able to take…. What was Mary enjoying? What was she eating? I’m persistent on this point, because I’m enjoying it too. I will venture to say that she was eating the one she was listening to. I mean, if she was eating truth, didn’t he say himself, “I am the truth”? What more can I say? He was being eaten, because he was the Bread. “I,” he said, “am the bread who came down from heaven.” This is the bread which nourishes and never diminishes.”

It’s easy to get trapped in the work of the ministry especially since it never ends. It takes hard work, talent, and resources to support a successful ministry. Sadly that’s all some ministries have going for them. They have an entire staff and congregation of Marthas with nobody sitting at Jesus’ feet. Mary had discovered a different kind of food, spiritual food, and that’s why she would not leave the Lord’s side. Feasting on God’s word and feasting on His presence is our daily bread. Without this spiritual meal all we have is basically a well run machine that doesn’t touch our greatest need which is simply just to be with Him.