Genesis 18:1-10a Psalm 15 Colossians 1:15-28 Luke 10:38-42
I was asked recently if there was anything about becoming a priest that really surprised me. My answer was that I enjoy preaching. Getting up before a congregation and finding something new to say each week was intimidating when I started the process of becoming a priest. Getting up in front of my preaching professor and fellow students was even more intimidating than I had imagined – but since coming here I have learned that preparing a sermon helps me grow in faith. It provides for me a disciple that moves my reading of the scriptures from the academic exercises in seminary to a spiritual experience. And although some sermons are better than others, it is the disciple of prayer and study that helps me listen to what God wants, and keeps me grounded in my faith.
Perhaps the most valuable tool I learned in seminary to use in preparing a sermon was lectio divina. Lectio divina is a Latin word that means “divine reading.” I’ve also heard people describe it as prayer, or “holy reading.” It combines reading with prayer and can lead us to find greater meaning in the scriptures and experience God in new and powerful ways. You can think of lectio divina as a slow prayerful reading of the scriptures. It does not require a knowledge of theology or the Bible for us to use this method of study, it only requires us to listen.
Next month you will have the opportunity to learn how to read the scriptures using this method in small groups. In the Narthex is a sign-up sheet for a potluck to be held on August 15th. Our plan for this fall is to begin hosting “Divine Dinners” (both at noon and in the evenings) in the homes of several of our members. Each group will gather to share a meal and prayerfully listen to a scripture.
It is our hope that you will come and invite a friend to join you for the informational potluck. Coming to the potluck does not commit you or your friends to attend the dinners, but it will help in the formation of our dinner groups. <Pause>
As you can read in the bulletin, each Tuesday evening we open the church for quiet reflection and meditation. I have been using this time to practice lectio divina in preparation for Sunday’s sermon. This past Tuesday, after reading the gospel, I found myself stuck and asking myself the same question over and over again, “What one thing could Jesus have been referring to?”
This story of Martha and Mary found only in Luke is a familiar one. Jesus is welcomed into the home of Martha and Mary. And while Martha is busy being the hostess, perhaps preparing food and drink for her guests, her sister Mary is sitting with Jesus listening to what he has to say. I’ve heard Martha described in many ways – as being pre-occupied, distracted, whiny, or worse when she asks Jesus to intervene and tell Mary to help her sister. But Jesus comes to Mary’s defense and says, “Martha, Martha you are worried and distracted by many things.” Most of the sermons I’ve heard focus on Martha being distracted, but as I have said, I couldn’t stop thinking about what Jesus said after that: “There is need of only one thing.”
What one thing was that, I wondered. Clearly as humans we need more than one thing – we do need nourishment, which I assume Martha was concerned about preparing and very well could have used Mary’s help. We need rest, and Martha may have been gathering blankets and such so that the Lord and his disciples would have a place to sleep. There is any number of things that we need to be healthy – and although we say the Lord will provide, these things do not appear magically in front of us where and when we need them. No, we must use the God-given talents and abilities we have in order to meet our most basic needs for food, shelter, and clothing. What then, could Jesus have meant when he said, “There is need of only one thing,” I wondered?
After pondering this question to no avail over night I was still at a loss for the answer. The next day, however, I taught this method of listening to the scriptures to three other people in preparation for our potluck. We shared with each other the word or phrase that captured our attention; I shared the phrase: “there is need of only one thing.” Other members in our group shared that the word that stood out for them was listening. By the end of our time together I understood that the one thing I needed to do was to listen. At this point in my life and ministry here I have so many thoughts and goals – but the one thing I need, is to listen.
In January, our vestry started its planning retreat using lectio divina. We read a scripture, listened to God, and then we listened to each other. By the end of the retreat we had set a number of goals and we have been busy ever since. Several of the goals are to be implemented this fall – and I, like Martha, have been busy thinking of all the things I needed and wanted to get done. I have been concerned with what St. Andrew’s needs to do to be more welcoming to youth and their families. So, I have occupied my mind with thoughts of pouring a concert pad for a basketball goal, purchasing a ping-pong table, and other such items to help make this church more appealing to youth. We now have a projector and can show movies, but like adults, youth enjoy each other's fellowship and shooting a few hoops, playing ping pong, or Wii is a better choice for them than a good happy hour before Mardi Gras.
Planning the Divine Dinners and stewardship needs have also occupied my mind as has being worried that I have not done all that I should to welcome people into our church, to encourage visitors to return, and to be visible in the community. I have been “worried and distracted by many things,” like Martha and have forgotten that the most basic need of all is to listen to what our Lord is saying.
Today’s gospel reminded me that we must listen continuously – not just long enough to make a list of things to do and go to work; we must listen daily. Listening to the Lord gives greater purpose to our actions and realigns our priorities when needed.
The purpose of all that the vestry planned: the youth group, divine dinners, and increased mission, is for St. Andrew’s to be the body of Christ in this community and for us to grow in faith. And the message I’m taking home from today’s Gospel is that we must begin each day listening to what God is saying to us, here, now. Listening to God helps us to center our lives on Christ and gives meaning to everything we do and say.
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray to you to guide and govern us by the Holy Spirit, that in all the care and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
