What Does God Require?

That We Hear Jesus

Psalm 52

Luke 10:38-42

16 Ordinary

July 22, 2007

Rev. Martin R. Ankrum

But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’

To whom do you listen? Who really has your ear? Think about it for a moment: which voice do you give the greatest credence?

Remember that old marketing line for the brokerage firm: “When E.F. Hutton speaks, people listen?” Who is the E.F. Hutton in your life?

Ernest Hemingway said:

“I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.”

Or, how about Larry King:

“I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I’m going to learn, I must do it by listening.”

So listening, hearing is vastly important to us if we are going to grow and continue to mature in our living. The question remains, however, to who should we really listen? Which voice should we give the most credence?

There are so many different voices to hear in this life. In fact, it seems that there are countless more than there used to be. Think about the influence of cable networks, the Internet and the profusion of cellular devices in our lives.

We go to out to lunch and find ourselves listening or watching the news on those ubiquitous flat-screen televisions hanging over the bar, in the corners of the dining room or out in the waiting area. We try to involve our lunch partner in conversation, but it’s hard to hear him over the fellow in the next booth yakking on his cellphone about getting something accomplished before he gets back to the office. Just as that fellow gets off the phone, your luncheon companion is distracted by checking his email on his new iPhone, only to report to you that someone has just sent him the funniest clip from Youtube.

Of course, I’m just talking about a luncheon engagement from last week … think of all the voices that we hear during a full day, a whole week, an entire month, a complete year … a lifetime. Which voice do we lend credence, full credence in our living?

The story of Mary and Martha is really a tale about hearing and listening, stopping and letting someone else have the floor for once. The story that has preceded this one was the Parable of the Good Samaritan; about loving your neighbor as yourself. This story illustrates the first part of that two-halved corollary: “Love God with all your heart, your mind and your soul …”

In the story, Jesus shows up unexpected for dinner and Martha busies herself with the serving, while her sister Mary sits at the feet of Christ and listens to what is being said. Martha, after working a bit more, comes out from the kitchen and addresses Jesus, asking him, more or less, to give Mary heck about not helping out. Instead, the surprising Jesus counsels Martha that it is Mary who has chosen well … what she receives at the feet of Christ will not be taken from her.

This passage has caused its own share of arguments within the Christian community. But let’s bypass all of those and concentrate on what Jesus is advising Martha: sometimes all the busyness has to be stopped and we must take time to listen … to really hear what Jesus is saying to us.

I think we can all relate to the truth behind the concept of setting aside some time to stop whatever we’re doing and listen or care about another. We encounter those opportunities or challenges all the time.

Ted Wardlaw, President of Austin Theological Seminary, tells the following story:

“A man goes on vacation with his family. It's been a long year, and he is looking forward to this suspension in the normal routine of things. He is ready to put away the calendar and to get beyond a telephone and to do different things for a little while. But, without his noticing it, the to-do list for his vacation is as long as the to-do list back at the office. Read these novels go to this museum, take this hike, eat at this restaurant, get these chores done on the mountain house, buy and absorb these journals and newspapers. Until one night, early on in the two weeks away and soon enough for him to catch himself, his little four-year-old says, "Daddy, will you read me my stories tonight?" He stretches out on the bed next to her, and they read. And, because she's tired, he knows that as soon as this last story is finished, he can get back to his novel and begin planning the events of the day tomorrow.

“But here is what happens instead. When the last story is over, she says, "Daddy, will you just sit here until I fall asleep." And so he does. And with the light out while she sings herself to sleep, he listens to her voice fade quietly away, and then to her breathing, and then to the curtain rustling quietly as a soft breeze ushers cool night air into the room, and then to the holy sounds made by wonder itself. He is aware of the fullness of time and the keeping of time is not as important and he is thankful.”

Now, can’t we all relate to something like that? You’ve got your agenda all set when something else … someone else, enters the picture and you’re presented with the choice of doggedly pursuing your own agenda, your own vision or relinquishing a bit and allowing space for someone else. Depending upon your closeness with that person or your love for that person, you probably make your decision.

Here is one of things that God requires of us: that we listen to Jesus. In the midst of the Transfiguration, the voice of God comes resounding in the disciples ears and they hear: “This is my son with whom I am well pleased; listen to him!”

This parable illustrates our need to stop, take time to hear what Jesus is saying. We do that in a variety of ways and in a variety of settings, but none seem as important to me as the act of divine worship. We gather corporately at the beginning of the week and set aside our agendas of getting done and accomplished whatever we think we should get done or accomplished and listen for the voice of Jesus in the midst of worship. Jesus asks us in worship to set aside the agenda of Martha, our busyness and listen, for God’s sake …

Joy Douglass Strome, pastor of Lake View Presbyterian Church in Chicago, says this:

“Distractions and worries abound. Jesus calls us to stop. Stop what we are doing and listen. There is need of only one thing. This good news is for you. It doesn’t matter if you are male or female, gay or straight, old or young, red or blue. Whether you are working in the kitchen or sitting on the floor, this good news is for you. You. There is need of only one thing.

“For those of us caught in a never-ending swirl of priority setting with too much to do and too little time, drowning in commitment fatigue, swamped with busyness overload, Jesus offers the way. Gospel trumps busy. Gospel trumps worry. Gospel trumps distractions. Always. Martha, dear Martha, there is relief.”

What does God require? That we hear, really hear Jesus!