What does service mean to you? Is it something that you are called to or something you do? It is an opportunity that we have every day? Is it leadership? There are many ways that we look at service in our world, in the ways that we are called to be light in times of darkness and love in times of hate. In our Living As Disciples sermon series this month we are going to be looking at four stories from Luke’s Gospel that show us what it looks like to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ who is transforming the world. The stories range in gender, age, ethnic background, and experience, yet they all have one thing in common, they were ordinary people who made a difference in the world. They were engaged in service, in transformation, and in creating community.
This week we will look at the story of Mary and Martha from the Gospel of Luke. The story of Mary and Martha is often seen as a story that pits the sisters against each other. Martha gets overlooked for her work while Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus. Martha is working too hard and not taking seriously the presence of Jesus in her home (if you have heard the story I am sure you can think of other examples). Yet this week, as we explore discipleship and the ways we are called to be leaders I want to shift the perspective of this story. What is the work that Martha is doing? How do we know it is not the work of ministry? Ministry is complex, and sometimes in pursuit of our own world transformation we get wrapped up in all of the things that need to get done. Yet it is my hope this week that we will celebrate both Mary and Martha, and the ways that they each answered their call to do the work.
Be reframing this story, let us reframe all of the different ways that service looks in our world. The ways that we can show up and participate. Let us look at each of our gifts and talents, and remember that although we come from different backgrounds and have different things to bring to the table, it is a table that we are all welcome to.
Melissa Hurley is Pastor at Middletown Community United Methodist Church. Please join us in Middletown at 11:00 as we celebrate Living As Disciples. All Are Welcome.
