27TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him.

This is such an ordinary and relatable scene in the Gospel of Luke. There is no sign or miracle, no confrontation with Pharisees, no thought-provoking parable. Instead, it is a portrait of our Lord in everyday life. He is simply among friends, enjoying their company. It’s a good reminder that Jesus is there with us, too, in our day-to-day routines. Yet we know how often his presence can be obscured by the tasks that clamor for our attention.

Chances are, you have been Martha at some point, “burdened with much serving” (Luke 10:40). Maybe that phrase describes you today—in the workplace or in your home or faith community. You could be striving to perform or be productive; you could be trying to meet your own expectations or those placed on you by someone else. Maybe, like Martha, you’re keeping it together, but you can feel the resentment simmering. And it’s a completely understandable reaction, especially if you feel like “my sister [or brother] has left me by myself” (10:40), and you are taking on more than your fair share of the load.

In Martha’s case, she decides to speak up. It’s easy to see her in a negative light here as she registers her complaint about her sister. But the important thing is this: when Martha was burdened, she “came to him” (Luke 10:40). Even in her exhaustion and annoyance, instead of lashing out at Mary, she goes to Jesus. She doesn’t hold back about how she is feeling. She puts it all in his lap and asks him to intervene.

Where do you turn when you are feeling like Martha? To Jesus? Do you ask him to help you reorient your priorities, as he did for Martha? Let him bring your gaze back to himself. Let him remind you that he is there in the busyness; indeed, he is in and among the ones whom you serve.

Jesus is always “the better part,” whether you find him in quiet contemplation or in acts of service (Luke 10:42). So when you feel burdened today, take a moment to come to Jesus and find rest in his presence. And if you’re in the middle of something that can’t wait, trust that you can even find him there.

“Jesus, help me to come to you, just as Martha did, whenever I am burdened.”

Jonah 3:1-10
Psalm 130:1-4, 7-8
Luke 10:38-42