WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:06.879 Today, we reflect on Jesus' charge to love God and to love your neighbour as yourself, 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:10.380 in the light of his visit to the home of Martha and Mary. 00:00:11.259 --> 00:00:15.160 We'll try to appreciate how to overcome barriers in achieving that. 00:00:16.359 --> 00:00:20.240 Being a good neighbour takes time and hurry is a major distraction. 00:00:21.400 --> 00:00:24.000 Being a good neighbour requires trust and humility. 00:00:24.920 --> 00:00:27.160 It requires a letting go of self. 00:00:28.280 --> 00:00:29.120 Let's pray. 00:00:30.600 --> 00:00:36.820 Lord God, guide us by your Spirit, that we may be open to hear your voice to us today. 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:43.179 Speak to us in our own circumstances and encourage us, we pray. 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:46.320 For Jesus' sake. Amen. 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:54.519 Martha had opened her home to Jesus and his followers as they were on their way to Jerusalem. 00:00:54.520 --> 00:01:00.080 We can be open to our neighbours as we go about our daily lives. 00:01:01.220 --> 00:01:06.480 Open in our willingness to take time to stop and say hello or have a conversation. 00:01:08.060 --> 00:01:10.859 Martha was worried and upset about many things. 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:15.740 She was busy with providing for her guests and only saw her own tasks. 00:01:15.739 --> 00:01:20.359 Mary sitting idly at Jesus' feet irritated her. 00:01:21.959 --> 00:01:30.399 We can be so busy or in so much of a hurry that we can fail to see others or see them busy apparently doing nothing. 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:32.400 That can irritate us. 00:01:34.219 --> 00:01:36.780 Martha took out her irritation on Jesus. 00:01:36.780 --> 00:01:41.739 Don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? 00:01:43.159 --> 00:01:46.359 We can take out our irritation on those close to us. 00:01:46.820 --> 00:01:49.159 Those we really should be spending time with. 00:01:49.159 --> 00:01:58.819 When we have invited people to stay or for a meal, we can get bogged down like Martha and fail to enjoy our guests' company. 00:01:59.759 --> 00:02:02.679 Been there, done that and I've got the t-shirt. 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:12.859 Martha was so worried and upset with all the things she had to do that she was missing out on the one thing that would make a difference for her. 00:02:12.860 --> 00:02:24.040 We can be so worried and upset with all the things on our minds that have to be dealt with that we can miss out on the one thing that can make a difference for us. 00:02:25.540 --> 00:02:31.480 Jesus talks about this in the Sermon on the Mount and Luke mentions it again a little later in his Gospel. 00:02:32.480 --> 00:02:35.680 And do not set your heart on what you will eat and drink. 00:02:36.100 --> 00:02:37.320 Do not worry about it. 00:02:38.160 --> 00:02:40.140 Your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. 00:02:40.139 --> 00:02:45.939 But seek His Kingdom and these things will be given to you as well. 00:02:47.779 --> 00:02:51.479 The one thing that is needed is what Mary chose. 00:02:52.619 --> 00:02:54.059 Relationship with Jesus. 00:02:54.959 --> 00:02:57.359 Learning about life in God's Kingdom. 00:02:58.919 --> 00:03:03.099 Mary chose to step away from her tasks to listen to Jesus. 00:03:04.359 --> 00:03:08.639 We can step away from our tasks to listen to our neighbours. 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:13.779 We can follow Jesus' example of being interruptible. 00:03:14.759 --> 00:03:19.599 He was never too busy to hear a cry for help, to see someone looking for Him. 00:03:20.439 --> 00:03:22.539 The blind beggar who called out. 00:03:23.059 --> 00:03:27.179 The woman with bleeding who touched the fringe of His garment in the crowd. 00:03:28.379 --> 00:03:33.979 And many others who met Jesus face to face and were healed and forgiven. 00:03:33.979 --> 00:03:38.219 They found new life in their encounter. 00:03:41.219 --> 00:03:46.959 Mary chose to sit and listen to Jesus despite the disturbance it would cause. 00:03:48.239 --> 00:03:54.699 Sitting at the feet of the teacher and in the room allocated for men was definitely not the done thing. 00:03:54.699 --> 00:03:56.699 We can choose to sit and listen to Jesus. 00:03:56.699 --> 00:04:02.159 We can choose to sit and listen with our neighbours despite the disturbance it might cause. 00:04:03.419 --> 00:04:07.939 Crossing boundaries of attitude and culture requires patience and time. 00:04:09.299 --> 00:04:16.339 Taking a step across the normal boundaries of activity in our neighbourhood or workplace can be quite a challenge. 00:04:16.339 --> 00:04:19.519 It can feel like a no-go area. 00:04:20.839 --> 00:04:23.539 But Jesus affirmed Mary in her choice. 00:04:24.159 --> 00:04:29.299 And He will affirm us when we listen to Him carefully and put His teaching into practice. 00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:32.879 In Luke 8, Jesus says, 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:57.500 Mary chose to sit and listen and hear what Jesus had to say about God's kingdom. 00:04:57.500 --> 00:05:27.480 We can listen to Him. 00:05:27.480 --> 00:05:57.460 We can listen to Him. 00:05:57.459 --> 00:05:59.459 We can listen to Him. 00:05:59.459 --> 00:06:03.199 Mary was prepared for her meeting with the risen Lord Jesus. 00:06:04.039 --> 00:06:07.639 She met Him in the garden on that first Easter morning. 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:10.120 Jesus said to her, 00:06:10.699 --> 00:06:11.079 Mary. 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:14.959 She turned towards Him and cried out in Aramaic, 00:06:15.099 --> 00:06:17.359 Rabboni, which means teacher. 00:06:18.459 --> 00:06:21.099 And she went to the disciples with the news, 00:06:21.699 --> 00:06:23.159 I have seen the Lord. 00:06:23.160 --> 00:06:28.900 Mary has chosen what is better, Jesus said, 00:06:28.900 --> 00:06:31.740 and it will not be taken away from her. 00:06:33.260 --> 00:06:36.900 Jesus shows us that there is a choice we can make. 00:06:36.899 --> 00:06:44.719 If, like Mary, we are intentional about learning from Jesus in order to put His teaching into practice, 00:06:45.079 --> 00:06:46.659 we will choose well. 00:06:47.379 --> 00:06:49.339 It will not be taken away from us. 00:06:49.339 --> 00:06:55.079 And we will be prepared to love and serve both Christ and our neighbours. 00:06:55.079 --> 00:06:59.079 We are Easter people. 00:06:59.079 --> 00:07:03.399 Let us sit and listen and learn from Jesus, 00:07:03.819 --> 00:07:07.120 for He is alive and active in the world today. 00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:08.720 Alleluia. 00:07:10.199 --> 00:07:11.199 Let's pray. 00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:14.939 Lord Jesus, 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:19.920 help us to choose to take time to learn from You each day. 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:22.420 In the busyness of life, 00:07:22.780 --> 00:07:25.720 give us space to see You in our neighbours. 00:07:26.660 --> 00:07:28.939 In the challenges of life, 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:32.340 give us neighbours who see You in us. 00:07:32.339 --> 00:07:35.819 In every situation of life, 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:38.719 we look to You as guide. 00:07:39.899 --> 00:07:40.279 Amen.