The One Thing

Introduction

Imagine a house full of guest. The host is scrambling to entertain them. She is juggling a tray full of soft drinks on one hand and a serving dish full of appetizers on the other. Her hands are paining from holding them up for others. Her cheeks are paining for having to smile to the guests who keep stopping her to congratulate her because HE is in her house. The woman is ticking down an imaginary clock in her head that will tell her when to take the bread off the heat. HE is in her house. The reason why her house is filled to the brim is not because of her. It is HIM and yet she can't co and attend to HIM. She knows that her sister is doing that. Her sister is doing only that. She rushes to the kitchen to get some more drinks and as she carries them she purposely moves towards the main room. HE is sitting there chatting everyone up and her sister is sitting at HIS feet, swallowing HIS words like a starved puppy.

"Rabbi, don't you care that I am slaving out there in the kitchen for you while my sister has abandoned me to sit at your feet?" she spits out. She tried to hold her tongue. She was the pleasant hostess. They say that tending to unknown guest you never know when you end up tending to angels of God. And HE wasn't an angel of God. There were rumours, hushed whispers, many believed, including her, that HE was the chosen one of God, the coming King. She wanted to sit with HIM too. If her sister would help her she could get the job done in half the time. THEN she could give her undivided attention to HIM, only then.

"Martha, you worry about too many things. Only one thing is needed and Mary has chosen that." Jesus answers. That poured a bucket of water on Martha's head. The Teacher appreciates my sister's idleness over my hospitality. But no, that is not it. It wasn't that what Martha was doing but rather what she wasn't doing. Martha was paying attention to HER guests, HER reputation as a hostess, HER duties. Mary focused on HIM. HE is the only thing that was needed for our salvation. HE is the only thing that is needed even today.

This devotional is a journal that I have been told to maintain by my church. I shall be writing one entry from one chapter of the Gospel of John, one point that reaches out to me among all others. I am try to focus on the 'One Thing' over here. Bear with me.