The Rev. Canon Robert D. Edmunds St. George's Cathedral, Jerusalem

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be ever acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Amen.

The story of Martha and Mary is one of those Biblical classics. Part of the endearing nature of the story is that we all can identify with Martha and with Mary. The truth is that we all know Martha and we all know Mary. People in our lives may have other names, but their personality has all to do with Martha or Mary. The story names these two women, but the story really is all about you and me.

Something worth remembering is that a key player here is not mentioned. Do any of you remember who Martha and Mary’s brother is? We find ourselves in the home of not just the two women, but also the home of Lazarus who, we recall, is a very close friend of Jesus. Jesus is well known to this family. He has spent lots of time visiting with them in their home. So having him stop by to visit, have dinner, spend the night and so forth is not at all out of the ordinary.

And where do they live? They live in Bethany, just outside of Jerusalem on the back side of the Mount of Olives. If you stand where the Dome of the Rock stands today and look east, across the Kidron Valley, over to the Garden of Gethsemane and up to the top of the hill where the Augusta Victoria Hospital is today, hang a right about a mile and then go straight over the top of the hill and you find yourself in Bethany.

This sounds easy, and so it was until the wall was put up. While Christian pilgrims and visitors can still get to Bethany and can still visit the traditional site of the tomb of Lazarus, it is a long detour around the so called "separation barrier" to get there. But at the time of this story, it was just around the corner.

So, we know where they lived. We know the family. We have an idea of the quality of the relationship Jesus had with them . . . so why is Jesus so hard on Martha?

As we read between the lines of the text, Martha must have become someone I call "the kitchen martyr". Most families have one member designated to this task. I know, because once in a while I can be that martyr. “No, no, no, I can handle the hors-d’oeuvres, the salad, bake the cake, grill the fish, pour the drinks, clean the silver and set the table. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. You have yourselves a lovely time. I’m happy to do it all.” Sound at all familiar?

Translation – "Why is it always me having to do everything all the time while the rest of them just party on, self-centered do-nothings that they are. I never get a chance to visit like they do because I am so busy."

It looks like Martha’s level of hospitality has spun out of control. Jesus, honored guest he may have been, is a friend of the family. As a friend, some hummus, a little bread and olive oil, a glass of wine and enough already. No need for the fatted calf and all of that. With a little imagination we might see Jesus happy to stop by for a visit to share some thoughts with people he loved and trusted and who loved and trusted him without a lot of fanfare and falderall. Sadly, Martha was distracted by much serving. Mary sat with Jesus to listen and learn.

Of course, we see there’s a deeper point to the story than the historical setting and the history of kitchen martyrdom. Jesus, and all of us know, how easy it is to be distracted. It is especially easy to be distracted by all the little things and loose what is important.

The current social and political situation here in the Land of the Holy One provides any number of examples. There is great fuss and bother about permits, permissions, checkpoints, blockades, deportations, visas and more. These are all things which have their place and are important in so many ways, but they are merely symptoms of the disease of the occupation.

It is easy to be outraged at the humiliation of Palestinians at checkpoints; it is easy to become indignant at senseless bureaucratic harassment about permits and permissions and so forth. Why is this easy? It’s human nature. Outrage and indignation are easy compared to struggling to bring about a change of heart; a change of policy; a change of perception; a change which will bring people together rather than drive them apart. It's easy to stay distracted with things we feel we can react to rather than tackle the bigger issues which are so much more difficult. It is easy to become distracted about the wall, but it's not about the wall; it's about the occupation and the policies and perceptions which allow the occupation of Palestine and the isolation of Gaza to continue.

For Christians, I believe that speaking words of compassion and mercy, being a non-anxious and non-violent presence, keeping faith in God at the forefront of our hearts and minds is not an easy task – and all but impossible if we are consumed by the endless distractions in a modern age – let alone the petty personal insults and criticisms we are prone to If our hearts and minds are busy with other things, how can we pursue a holy way of life? The life of a disciple is not often the easy way when it comes to working with people and situations – why? Because the model we are called to follow is Jesus.

The story of Martha and Mary is all about being a disciple of Jesus. Like Mary, you and I must keep our eyes on Christ. Our spiritual connection with Christ must not be on the shelf, but must be on our hearts in how we are toward others and how our faith is lived. Petty criticisms of others and self-centered agendas do not build up the body of Christ.

Imagine this -- you may be the only example of a live Christian some people ever get a chance to know. And believe me, people notice. You notice who walks close with God. You know who is focused on not just talking the talk of faith, but walking the walk of faith. I know I notice. And I think it is fair to say, God notices. Others notice too.

You may be interested to know, Martha eventually did get the picture. Martha came to Jesus when her brother Lazarus died. And in their encounter, Jesus said this to Martha; “ . . . he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Martha said, “Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who is coming into the world.”

Martha lost her distractions; got focused on what is important and you and I are encouraged to do the same.

In the Name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.