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By Bishop Violet Fisher

In the 10th chapter of Luke, we have an interesting dynamic between two sisters. This is a story that sent conflicting messages to me throughout my childhood. Everybody knew that Martha was the Good Girl, yet Mary is the one Jesus points to as the model, Mary, the slacker, is sitting around with the guests while the real work was being done.

But Jesus is not telling Martha to sit down. Jesus is not telling Mary to get busy. Jesus applauds and defends that posture of listening ? of living out the 'one necessary thing.' You see, in my study of Scripture, I am more and more convinced that for each child of God there is a face of Christ that is particular for that person ? the one necessary thing that gives them life and will bring the life of Christ to their world.

The story illuminates three principles.

First, ur long-term effectiveness in ministry depends on a healthy balance between listening to Jesus and serving Jesus. Luke puts the story side by side with the story of the Good Samaritan. It would be easy to read a passage like the story of Mary and Martha and believe that Jesus just wants us to sit at his feet and inhale his love all of the time. The story of the Good Samaritan is a tug in the opposite direction: We are to do our faith; we are to put it into action.

By placing the stories side by side, Luke shows us that listening to Jesus and serving Jesus go hand in hand. We must inhale the love of God if we are to meaningfully exhale God?s love to a world in need.

Secondly, there is a significant difference between being called and being driven. People who are driven have an agenda. They want to accomplish something specific. Martha wanted Mary to stop spending time with Jesus and help in the kitchen. She had an agenda for Mary. Has anybody ever placed expectations for you, wanting you to do the right thing, according to that person?s design? Sometimes a driven person tries to control the situation in hopes of achieving the desired outcome.

Many people in the church can be driven people. We want what we want in the community of faith and we?re going to make it happen. But there is a difference between being driven to accomplish something for our own agenda and being called to service. When you know you are called, you can let something go. If it really is of God, that very thing will come back to you in ways beyond what you?ve ever imagined. You might have to give up control and place things completely in God?s hands.

Thirdly, often those who seem like they have the least to give actually give the most. Henry Nouwen went to Latin America to work with poor people. In his travels there, he realized that sometimes the greatest gift he could give was just to 'be' with the people versus doing something for them .... He writes about his experiences as the poverty of riches and the riches of poverty.

Christians are sometimes accused of being so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. Often, when problems are brought to our attention, we content ourselves with feeling sorry about them, while doing nothing. Sympathetic thoughts or kindly musings are not true compassion. We have the mandate from Jesus: Go, make disciples in my name.

Bishop Violet Fisher is the episcopal leader of the New York West Area. This article is taken from her sermon at the Ordination and Commissioning Service. Click here for a complete transcript of the sermon.