Jesus at the Home of Martha and Mary

Christ at the Home of Martha and Mary, Johannes Vermeer, 1654-56 Scottish National Gallery

READ: Once when Jesus was traveling with his disciples they stayed in the home of Martha and Mary. As the two sisters welcomed Jesus and his friends in their home, Martha was busy making things ready for their guests. There was so much to do. Mary, on the other hand, sat down next to Jesus, listening to him teach. Martha was distracted by everything on her to-do list, and she came to Jesus and asked him, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me.”
Jesus smiled at Martha and said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, when there is only one thing which matters. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42)

​WONDER: I wonder how Martha felt when she welcomed Jesus and all his disciples into their home?
I wonder how Mary felt as she sat with Jesus and listened to him teach?
I wonder why Martha was distracted?
Jesus told Martha that there was only one thing that really matters. I wonder what that one thing is?
I wonder which part of this story you like the best?

PRAY: Loving God, thank you for this story of Jesus. Help us make good choices, and to find what is most important in our lives. Amen.

EXTEND

• Consider inviting someone over for an afternoon snack or even a meal. Together with your family make a list of all the things you will need to get ready for your guest. What do you need? How will you divide up the tasks? I wonder what you need to do to make someone feel welcome?
• Read Three Hens and a Peacock written by Lester L. Laminack and illustrated by Henry Cole. Life on the Tuckers’ farm is peaceful until one day when a box falls off a truck leaving a bewildered peacock at the farm. The peacock quickly attracts attention, and the other farm animals begin to complain. The old farm hound has a solution--the animals switch jobs and that’s when everything goes wrong on the farm. I wonder what causes problems on the farm? I wonder what the animals learn about themselves? about the other animals?

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