​But Martha was distracted by a great deal of serving; so she came to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving by myself? Speak to her so that she might help me.”
~Luke 10:40
 
 
This may be the most universal and ubiquitous family practice of indirect speech we are seeing here. Martha speaks to Jesus, but her words are aimed to sting her sister who sits within earshot as much as they are a frustrated cry for help: “Teacher, don’t you care…” doesn’t anyone care that I’m left here alone with all this stuff that needs to be done?
 
She has a point. So does the Teacher.
 
Jesus calls Martha back—way back—to the stories of her faith and those others whom God cared enough to call twice: “Abraham, Abraham! Put that knife down, God has provided the ram.” Jacob, Jacob! God will make your descendants a great nation.” And from the burning bush that is not consumed, “Moses, Moses! I want you to fire up my put-upon people.” Samuel, Simon, Saul, Martha. Martha is among this exceptional company of leaders called at pivotal times in their lives, chosen by God for works of ministry.
 
And yet.
 
Earlier this year we heard in this story an invitation to Mary to be a disciple, a peer with the men—with all the rights and privileges…and demands to come and die. Mary situates herself as a learner “at the feet of Jesus,” a location traditionally reserved for men, and Jesus affirms her in the doing. In this world obsessed with roles and titles and achievement in which we imagine ourselves to be the main actors in our stories, what if “the better thing” in the moment is for Martha to remember that as much as she is gifted and called to remarkable ministry, not everything is hers (or ours) to do. The ministry does not rest on her shoulders alone. Or ours. Indeed, this Way is not a transaction, but a relationship with Love. It follows that only love will keep it from growing stale.
 
Enter into worship.
 
Readings: Amos 8:1-12 and Psalm 52 † Genesis 18:1-10a and Psalm 15 † Colossians 1:15-28 † Luke 10:38-42
 
About the Art: He Qi. Martha and Mary, picture from personal collection. 

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.
~Luke 10:27
 
 
Here it is—arguably the heart of the Christian enterprise. Love God. Love neighbor. That’s it. The whole of the law and the prophets hang on this, according to Matthew (22:37ff). Luke doesn’t say this part so explicitly. Here Jesus instead tells a story in response to a question—from one, we are told, “seeking to justify himself.”
 
And what does Jesus do? He takes the tradition seriously, and opens it up for new interpretation and reflection. What does this truth look like in practice? Where is it found? Who is a neighbor and in what neighborhood? “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers…”
 
Is there a word here for today? For you and me, for us together? What does this message have to offer when it is less clear who the robbers are, who the helpers are?
 
Enter into worship.
 
Readings: Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82 † Deuteronomy 30:9-14 and Psalm 25:1-10 † Colossians 1:1-14 † Luke 10:25-37
 
About the Art: Pascin, Jules, 1885-1930. Good Samaritan, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56978 [retrieved June 28, 2022]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JulesPascin-1917-The_Good_Samaritan(Persons_in_Cuba).png.

​The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!”.
~Luke 10:17
 
These seventy nameless followers are sent out with nothing. No shoes. No backpack. No weapons. No money. No backup plan.  Well, almost nothing! They do carry in their empty hands the authority that love, good will, and self-giving provides for them—and the benefit of clear boundaries. And they do things that astonish even themselves: healings of all sorts, the building of new friends, relationships, and partnerships. A good society. Here is a rare occasion with Jesus’ disciples actually find some success!
 
The powerful, suffering chieftain Naaman goes looking for healing with guns blazing, with all the firepower of someone who is used to means and the use of them for his own purposes. It takes the humble insights of servants, children, and wise counsel for Naaman to be healed—of his sickness, and of being a big deal.
 
What does it take for us to receive the blessings of Spirit? What does it take for us to lead?
 
Enter into worship.
 
Readings: 2 Kings 5:1–14 and Psalm 30 † Isaiah 66:10-14 and Psalm 66:1-9 † Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16 † Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
 
About the Art: Gogh, Vincent van, 1853-1890. Harvest in Provence, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=55315 [retrieved June 23, 2025]. Original source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ernte_in_der_Prov%C3%A9nce.jpeg.