a Mary Christmas

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.” Luke 10:38-42

This passage in Luke doesn’t refer to the Mary of the Christmas story - the sweet, young, trusting mother of Jesus.  It does, however, describe the Mary I choose to have at the center of my Christmas story this year.  Here is a woman whose heart hungers for words from the Messiah.  She is unhurried, unpressured and completely present to what God is teaching, even when others would pull her away. In contrast to the busyness of Martha, Jesus commends her saying, “Mary has chosen what is better” (Luke 10:42).

You should know, this story has always made me a bit uncomfortable.  I feel like Martha needs a little defending.  She is taking care of all the preparations alone.  She is an industrious woman, serving well.  She is the one to open her home after all, to extend the welcome to Christ, to invite Him in. 

I get Martha.  My heart longs for closeness to Jesus and goodness gracious, nothing sounds as lovely as to just sit in his presence soaking up what he has to say.  But let’s be honest, there is always so much stuff to get done.

Now with the Christmas holidays right around the corner like a deadline I am unprepared to meet, I feel the pull to rush.  To be, like Martha, ‘distracted by all the preparations that have to be made’.

But I know there is a better way.

This was never meant to be a competition of presents, or decorations, or food.  Christmas is a time to remember how heaven broke through the chaos of our sinful choices in a most unexpected way – with peace, and with an answer to our busyness and working - a free gift of grace (Eph. 2:8-9).

It may be that this Christmas season is one you are dreading. There may be no peace in your home, just anger, resentment, rebellion.  Maybe there is an empty seat around your table this year and the pain of your loss seems magnified by the joy in others.  I trust that Jesus, the "man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3), will be close and tend to your heart in a tangible way.

For those whose Christmas looks to be a marathon of service, take time to rest awhile. Consider the Gift.  Consider how you can live in response. 

We all have choices to make.  Every day we choose whether we bless those around us and honor the One who died to make us His.  Martha served, and lots of days you and I do too.  But Mary prioritized the wisdom of Jesus while she had the opportunity.  Though there would always be tasks to complete, the Word of God would not always be with them and Mary recognized that nothing else mattered as much as hearing and heeding the words of Christ.  The Word in her home mattered most. 

Friends, the Word in your home, does as well.

If my children are reading this, you should know, there may not be all the fancy cookies and chocolate peanut butter balls this year.  There will, however, be the joy of togetherness, the hugest welcome home to the ones I miss having in my house. There will be mess and noise. There will be Christ at the center of it all. 

I am choosing a Mary Christmas this year.