Ministry; finding time for leisure during our preaching.

Ministry; finding time for Leisure!

Listen to the words of Martha and Jesus’ response regarding kitchen duties.  As they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Maerha welcomed him.  She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.  Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?  Tell her to help me.”  The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.  There is need of only  one thing.  Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”  (Lk 10: 38 - 42).

A narrative that describes an essential but humorous part of Jesus and the moment of sharing leisure time with his friends.  It makes us wonder why the writers of the gospels did not add more segments of the moments Jesus and his followers took time to play ball or some leisure time to cease from a very busy schedule of ministry to relax a little.  There is no doubt that during the three and a half years that are registered in the four gospel accounts there are many moments that are not written about.  The central theme in all the gospel narratives were about Jesus and his mission he was sent to accomplish.  As a man with a purpose, Jesus of course did what all men would do when traveling with his friends and was a man with other men in addition to the work of the day.

Many people may often wonder what else did these men of God do besides preach, heal, and spread the Good News about God?  Their questions make sense at a time when Jesus was totally human as well as totally divine.  Neither nature was alone throughout his life on earth.  

We must remember that Jesus was not a floating Spirit promising salvation and was an unapproachable person because of his divinity.  At the Incarnation the second person of the Holy Trinity took on humanity and as a man was 100 % like you and I.  Do you involve yourself with others like you?  So did Jesus.  Do you spend time talking about the sports events from around the world?  That is something Jesus and his disciples spent reminiscing about, as well.   Do not place Jesus as an untouchable person from Heaven and its hands-off.  By becoming human just like us (except sin) he is one who understands and sympathizes with our weakness, vulnerability, and needs just as we do as well.

So now no one can say, “well Jesus was God and he doesn’t understand my dilemma as a human being.”  We suffer pain and bleed from a fall; so did Jesus.  What about the temptations anyone of us is confronted with, even sexual?  As a man the Lord was confronted by every kind of temptation we all experience, since his Incarnation did not pick and choose just the simple evils that confront human beings.  He just was able to avoid the completion of falling into the clutches of sin as the rest of humanity.  Can we doi the same?  Yes!  But it takes a faith that is there if we are willing to seek the grace that God blesses us with.  Ask and it shall be given to us.  (Mt 6: 33).

Ralph B. Hathaway