Message: One Thing at A Time / Luke 10:38-42

Today’s Gospel reading tells a well-known story about two sisters, Martha and Mary. This story is often understood as drawing a sharp line between those who serve and those who listen, with the suggestion that the listener holds a higher place. But if we look more closely, we see that this story is not really about choosing one way over the other. It does not say that working hard is wrong or that listening is always better. Rather, it helps us understand the importance of recognizing what matters in each moment and focusing on one thing at a time.

When Jesus came to their home, Mary chose to sit and listen to him. She wanted to know more about him. She was excited to hear about what he had done and what he was going to say, so she gave him her full attention.

Meanwhile, Martha chose to work and serve. This was important, as Jesus and his disciples likely needed food and drink after their journey from another village. But Martha’s serving was driven by worry and pressure. For her, listening seemed like a waste of time. She did not understand why it was necessary. She believed that preparing the table was more urgent. She did it out of habit. Her work did not come from a place of true joy. She became distracted. As a result, she complained that Mary was not helping.

Many of us can understand how Martha felt. Life often moves quickly. We are busy with work, family, and countless responsibilities. We feel pressure to keep going, to do more, and to stay on top of everything. In the midst of it all, it’s easy to stop listening. Sometimes, we make the excuse that we already know what someone is going to say.

Conflict often arises when we think we know everything, especially with those closest to us, such as a spouse, partner, parent, or child. The problem is not what they are doing, but what we do not truly understand. We assume we already know everything about them, so we make quick judgments. But each person has their own story, their own struggles, and their own experiences that no one else fully knows. Each one of us is like a universe, complex and mysterious. Sometimes, we do not even fully understand ourselves.

Likewise, one of the challenges in the church is that many Christians think they already know everything about the faith. They stop learning. They might feel that praying or studying the Bible is a waste of time. Some treat quiet time with God like something they can just skip. You might even hear people say, “As long as I do good things, that’s enough.”

But without listening, without prayer, and without learning, we can become confused and lose our sense of direction. Our thoughts and feelings get scattered. Our actions can start to feel empty and meaningless. We lose sight of why we do what we do. We can become spiritually tired or feel disconnected from God and others.

This often happens when people begin studying for ministry. After tasting just a little theology, many seminary students think they already understand everything about God, the Bible, and the Church. They start to act like great theologians. But as they dig deeper, they realize just how much more there is to learn. No one can fully master theology, ministry, or Scripture. Those who truly know remain humble. They open their hearts to new ideas and experiences and come to understand that learning is a lifelong journey.

Since Francis Bacon (1561–1626) said, “Knowledge is power,” Western society has believed that the more someone knows, the more control or influence they may have. A French philosopher named Michel Foucault (1926-1984) later argued that knowledge and power always go together. He pointed out that people who possess knowledge, like doctors or teachers, often also hold authority over others. For this reason, many people today see education as a means to success, wealth, or status.

But in the Bible, knowledge carries a different meaning. One of the Hebrew words for “to know” is yada. It also has the meaning of building an intimate relationship or even making love. This shows that the ancient Hebrews saw knowledge as something deeply connected to love. For them, knowledge is not abstract or individual. It is experiential and relational. It is not about power and control. It is about love and connection.

This understanding of knowledge is also found in the East. Mencius (BC 372-289), the great Confucian teacher who deeply influenced East Asian culture, said this: "The way of learning is simply finding the heart we have lost." For him, the heart is something divine that lives within each of us. He explained this by saying that everyone naturally feels compassion. For example, if you see a small child about to fall into a well, you instinctively feel compassion and want to save them. In other words, true learning is about restoring our original heart of love and care. When we recover it, we can bring peace to our minds, our families, our countries, and to the whole world.

This is the kind of knowledge and learning that Christian education seeks to nurture and cultivate. We do not learn in order to gain power over others. We learn so that we can grow in love. When we take time to truly know, we begin to understand why we live and what we do. We find meaning in our actions.

To know Christ, we need to listen to him. We need to make time and space for Christian education. It is not just one of our heavy duties. It is a blessing that helps us stay close to Christ. When we learn about Christ, we begin to discover God’s love within us. And when we are connected to God’s love, our actions become clearer and more meaningful. When we understand the purpose and meaning of our work, we begin to serve others with peace and joy.

Those who believe they already know everything and that only actions matter will end up in trouble. Their hearts are restless. Their minds are distracted. Their words are filled with complaints. But those who take time to listen and learn will find inner peace. They understand what truly matters and where to focus their energy. With a sense of purpose and meaning, they do what needs to be done with gratitude. And they begin to live in ways that bring healing and hope.

Our faith is not about choosing between thinking and doing. It is about holding both together. We need time to reflect and time to act. We need both prayer and service. We need both education and outreach. Just as a bird needs two wings to fly, we need both listening and doing in order to love more deeply.

Mary chose to sit and listen to Jesus. She knew what she needed to focus on. She was not worried or distracted. She gave her full attention to one thing at a time.

Like Mary, may we take time to be still, to listen deeply, and then to act with love, with understanding, and with a clear sense of purpose. May we learn the rhythm of listening and serving, that our hearts be filled with peace, joy, and love. 

Thanks be to God. Amen.