The Gospel texts assigned in the Lectionary for the next two weeks offer two visions of the nature of faithful living. While each lesson offers insight into discipleship, put together they seem to offer contradictory trajectories. Yet, by holding them in tension, we find the fullness of gospel-living. The maxim of the parable of the Good Samaritan could be summed up in the statement, “Don’t just sit there, do something.” However, the story of Mary and Martha leads to a different conclusion. It seems to offer opposing advice. Based on this narrative, I can imagine Jesus telling Martha, “Don’t just do something, sit there.”
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus counters the notion that eternal life is found in simply following rules. Faith cannot be condensed to a list of do’s and don’ts. We are familiar with the Holiness Code of Leviticus and the danger of being declared “unclean” if the priest and Levite where to encounter a dead body. Certainly they were observing proscriptions that appeared in the law, but they failed to show mercy and kindness. As James puts it, “Faith without works is dead.” Belief leads to action. Experiencing God’s love moves us to share God’s love.
Of course, there is more to the parable than simply being kind. We must remember the historical context of the story. As a rule, Jews and Samaritans were bitter enemies. The reach of mercy is not limited. Neighbor is defined by need, not by preference or social proximity. It should be noted that the inclusion of a Samaritan leads beyond compassion to justice. Jesus ignores societal values that some people are not worth caring for. Love knows no bounds. Compassion and justice are crucial responses to all who would call themselves disciples. After all, Jesus concludes his teaching with the direction, “Go and do likewise.”
Taken to an extreme, this can lead to a mindset that was expressed in a bumper sticker I saw several years ago, “Jesus is coming … look busy.” While works of charity and justice are important, they are nurtured and nourished through a life-giving relationship with Jesus. It is through our experience of God’s love, acceptance and transformation that we find the strength and direction to become agents of these experiences for others. Thus, the story of Mary and Martha remind us to “take time to be holy.”
Marathon runners, prior to the big race, will “carb up.” Recognizing they will be expending so much energy, they seek to load up on nourishment so they will have the energy to finish what they start. So it is in the Christian life. We need to spend time at the feet of Jesus, to nurture our relationship, to listen to his teachings, to be filled with his power. This is the source and strength for the work we do on Christ’s behalf as we fulfill God’s mission of outreaching love in the world.
In the end, these two lessons remind us of our Wesleyan heritage. We are a people that hold together personal piety and social holiness. John Wesley didn’t see these as competing visions of the Christian life, but as two sides of the same coin. I don’t think it was by accident that Luke put these two stories of Jesus next to each other. This is the biblical mandate to love God and to love others. As James puts it, “Show me your faith apart from your works and I by my works will show you my faith” (2:18).
May God bless you in your sitting and your doing, that you will both be blessed and be a blessing.