That Good Part

In the Gospel read at every Feast of the Theotokos we hear the story of Martha and Mary and their need for God’s blessing. The story is familiar to our own in that once Christ arrives in their home as a guest for dinner, Mary leaves the kitchen (and Martha doing the remainder of the work) to spend the remaining time with her guest, our Lord Jesus Christ. The story is familiar because we each have been both Mary and Martha in our homes when guests arrive. And like the Gospel story we each have been faced with a dilemma: finish the busy work or spend time with our guest. “Mary has chosen that good part.” (Luke 10.42)

We have all heard how important it is to finish our preparation for company so that when the company arrives we may spend time with them rather than in the kitchen. It is seen as rude behavior to be slaving in the kitchen while our guests relax in the den. The same must be said about our life with the Lord. We must be prepared so that when the time comes to be with the Lord we are not “distracted with much serving and worried and troubled about many things.” (Luke 10.40-41) The real question we must consider is, “When IS the Lord coming?” and “When should we put away the busy work and spend time with Him?”

The answer is, “NOW!” We must live like the Lord is coming now and then we will always be prepared for His arrival. “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.” (Matthew 24.46) “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24.36) In the meantime, EVERY DIVINE LITURGY is an opportunity for us to “lay aside the cares of this life so that we may receive the King of all.” (from the Cherubic Hymn of the Divine Liturgy)