Sermon Preached by Pastor Eric Hullstrom

Salem Lutheran Church on Sunday, July 18, 2004

7th Sunday after Pentecost

Text:  Luke 10:38-42

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen!!!

Our Gospel text for today is set right after and in relationship to last week’s parable about the Good Samaritan.   

In the parable about the Good Samaritan, a lawyer asked Jesus what he must do to earn.  Jesus in turned asked the lawyer what the law says.  The lawyer responded by saying, “Love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself”.  Jesus said, “Very good”.  But the lawyer continues and asks, “Who is my neighbor”.  Jesus then goes into the parable of the Good Samaritan.  Jesus asks who was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers.  The lawyer responded by saying, “the one who showed mercy”.  Jesus said, “Go and Do likewise”.  Go and Do.  If we go and do, we will inherit eternal life…right.  That is all we need to do.  Good works.  Attend church.  Serve on church committees.  Teach Sunday school.  Help make coffee in the morning.  Visit people at the Good Samaritan Center.  We seem to have it all figured out.  But Jesus does not end there, because there is more to the story than just the Good Samaritan.

Today we have a story of two women…Martha and Mary.  Sisters.  Good Jewish women.  They knew the law.  And they knew Jesus.  One day, Jesus and his disciples are out traveling when they come to a certain village where Mary and Martha happened to live.  Jesus and the boys are tired and hungry so they stop at Mary and Martha’s house.  The women do like any good Jewish person would do and welcomes Jesus and the disciples in.  Mary gets them seated and takes their coats (or sandals as it were).  Martha frantically runs to the kitchen to prepare a meal.  After all, a good host needs to have food ready for their guests.  Martha is slaving away making her specialty (whatever that is).  Sweat is dripping down her face, her back is starting to hurt and she is getting tired and cranky.  But all of this is for her guests.  She is making a huge sacrifice to show love and hospitality to her guests.  Just like in the words of the lawyer last week, she is the one showing Jesus and the boys mercy.  But like I said earlier, there is more to this story.

Let’s continue…

Martha begins to lose her patience with her lazy sister and cannot take it anymore.  She thinks, “We are supposed to be hospitable and show mercy and I am doing all the work.  Mary needs to be in here helping.  I will bring this matter before Jesus and he will certainly tell Mary to help me.  After all, Jesus is all about mercy and justice and he definitely knows the law”.  So she goes to Jesus expecting help, but Jesus does something unexpected.  He tells Martha to settle down and stop worrying about so many things.  Then he says that Mary has chosen the better thing and it will not be taken away from her. 

We heard last week that we were to show mercy to our neighbor through the example of the Good Samaritan.  We were to be active and do good works, just like the Good Samaritan.  This Martha is doing that very thing.  She is showing mercy by be a good hostess.  She is preparing a meal.  Seeing to it that Jesus and disciples have a place to stay.  And making sure they are comfortable.  According to the law, Martha is doing everything correctly.  But there is something missing.

Many of you may remember that my dad owns a car dealership.  And until this past July 4 it was a Chrysler dealership, but he has since canceled his franchise.  Since my dad was going to get rid of the Chrysler line, Connie and I decided we had better get a different vehicle for me before July 4.  We figured out our budget and what we could afford.  I knew I was going to be driving a lot so I wanted something comfortable.  So we considered different options.  About a month ago we got a different car and we like it.  It looks sharp; it is very comfortable and has a CD player like I wanted.  It also get good gas mileage, which is very important today.   All of the outside appearances are important.  The toys on the car are fun.  But none of that matters until we car for the car.  I had to get a oil change this past week.  The other day I filled it with gas.  Yesterday I cleaned it up.  And now today I will be fixing some paint chips to help prevent rusting. 

Outside appearances are great, but unless we care for the inside, behind the scenes parts, the car will not last long.  This is the message Jesus is trying to tell us.  Good works are important, but they do not bring us life.  Good works benefit our neighbor, but they do not bring us life.  Good works get things done, but they do not impress God.  There is more.  We need to care for the inside, behind the scene part.  We need to care for our soul.

Jesus tells Martha that she is distracts by many things.  Martha is doing everything that is necessary according to the law, but she is not caring for herself.  She is not listening to the Word of God…where our life comes from.  Good works do not impress God so we can earn eternal life.  It is hearing the Word of God and then responding naturally through faith. 

Servants of God need the Word.  We need to care for our souls. We need Christ.

I went to seminary and was trained to be a pastor.  I feel confident that I can do this job.  I took classes on preaching, worship leadership, theology, and youth ministry and so on.  I was trained and can do the technical aspects of this job.  But I need to care for my soul.  I need to read scripture daily and meditate on God’s Word.  I need to come before Christ in confession and hear his word of absolution.  I need to know the assurance of eternal life is FOR ME because of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Today, we will be installing the Salem Lutheran Church council.  They have been elected and called to serve this church.  I have been working with them already and I know they can do the job that they were called to.  I have no doubt whatsoever.  But I say to you council members, do not rely on your knowledge of your job.  Do not rely on your own strength.  Do not rely on only fulfilling your job description, but rely on God.  Go to him in prayer and devotion.  Worship God in spirit and in truth.  Come to him and receive nourishment through hearing his Word and receiving his body and blood.  Hear His word of promise and that it is for you.  Let that power you, knowing that all you do is for this church and for your neighbor.  Basically, don’t be a Martha only, remember to be like Mary also and stop and listen.

To you, the rest of the members of Salem Lutheran Church.  You have been called to various tasks.  Some of you make that delicious egg coffee that I and many of us love to drink.  Some of you clean, cut grass, set up tables, teach Sunday school and serve in many other ways.  Know that through your serving you are showing mercy to others.  But also remember whose you are.  Remember in our text that Jesus is the one traveling to the cross, not you.  Remember to stop and listen.  Don’t rely on your own power, but rely on the power of God.

What must I do to inherit eternal life?  Nothing.  Jesus Christ does all the work.  Jesus told the lawyer to “go and do likewise”.  But if the only way to eternal life is through the law, through showing mercy to others, we will fall short.  We all have our bad days.  That is why the parable of the Good Samaritan continues and says that we need to stop and listen…listen to the word of life.

Martha was focused on good works trying to impress Jesus, but Mary was listening to what truly gives life.  That was the better thing.  Through your serving in the church remember to take time and listen.  Be empowered.  And know that all you do is not for entry into the kingdom of heaven, because…you are already there.

Go and do, but also, stop and listen…that is where the good stuff is.  Amen!