In Luke 10:38 we read that "Jesus went into a certain city, and a certain woman named Martha received him. She had as sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying."
Meister Eckhart notes three things that caused Mary to sit at Jesus' feet:
1. God’s goodness had embraced her soul.
2. Mary had a great longing, a yearning, a desire to know God intimately.
3. The words that came from Christ's mouth provided her with sweet comfort (consolation) and happiness (bliss).
The "masters" of the spiritual life have generally agreed that God is ready for every person's spiritual and physical satisfaction to the utmost degree that the person desires.
Richard Foster points out that the Mary and Martha impulses within us are to function in symbiosis. We first need the "one necessary thing" that Jesus spoke of. We first enter a loving, ongoing, ever-growing relationship with God. We learn to be a "branch," gaining our life sustenance from Christ, the Vine.
Once this reality has worked its way deep within us then, out of the abundance of this life, we serve others, freely and joyfully. Even the clarity about which services to undertake and the means for accomplishing them flow out of the "one necessary thing."
Jesus' encounter with Mary and Martha reminds us that sequence is important in our developing spirituality. Spiritual satisfaction gained through the "one necessary thing" precedes authentically joyful, helpful, Spirit-led service to others. Mary and Martha illustrate these two aspects of the Christian life--spirituality and service. These two inseparable twins are interlinked and powerfully influence one another.
Living out of Circle One (the "one necessary thing") will provide the spiritual satisfaction that empowers us for loving service.
Isn't it great to be crazy in love with Jesus?!
Duff
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