Sitting at the Feet of Jesus
- Barbara Silvestri
- Jul 20
- 2 min read
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. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Martha is the sister who works hard, preparing the home and meal, while her sister Mary “just sits” at the feet of Jesus. While they both serve the Lord, each does it in her own way.
The story of Martha and Mary holds significance for me. I am a “doer.” I get things done. There is nothing about me that is “lazy.” I am a no nonsense kind of woman. While this behavior appears to be efficient and well organized, there is a huge disadvantage to this type of conduct. The stress, frenzy, turmoil, chaos, impatience, and distractions do not allow for the quiet, serene, and peaceful invitation to unite with the love God.
Martha is annoyed. She’s anxious. She feels justified by insisting that Jesus instruct Mary to assist Martha.
Here’s the lesson I discovered while preparing this scripture interpretation:
Mary’s priority to abide with Christ by sitting at his feet prevents Mary’s service from becoming distracted. What a revelation!!!
Martha, like me, (like others), is judging what she thinks is negative behavior. Mary is not doing what Martha is doing. If others do not think or do what we think or do, we consider them as uncooperative, disapproving, contrary, negative. We become self-righteous and we can easily become lonely!
I believe that we can be both Martha and Mary. We can and we must serve, but we must also sit.
It’s love and devotion to Him that makes everything else of secondary importance.
Barbara Silvestri, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, taught 1st grade in a Catholic school for 10 years, lector, Eucharistic Minister, Minister of Care & long-time religious instructor at several churches throughout the Chicago & Joliet Diocese.
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