It was the summer of 1990. Dale and I had married that March and I had just finished my first year as a kindergarten teacher. I had a list a mile long of all the things I wanted to do, to learn and experience. One of my top priorities that summer was to learn how to cook. My mother was an incredible cook but I’d never had the time or inclination to learn myself. Before our wedding, Mama suggested that I look through her recipe box, choose my favorite dishes and she would teach me how to make them. I arrogantly replied, “I can read. How hard can it be?” I soon regretted my dismissive and disrespectful attitude when I tried to make beef stroganoff and had no idea what the recipe meant when it instructed me to “dredge the beef” or “deglaze the drippings.” Cooking has a unique language with vocabulary I was completely unfamiliar with. I didn’t speak cooking!
I was determined to learn how to speak this new language and make lovely meals for my new husband each day. I would wake up each morning, look through the Southern Living cookbook that we received as a wedding gift, pick a couple of recipes to try and take off to the local grocery store, Cub Foods, to purchase the ingredients. Most days there was a woman standing in the median of the busy road out front of the grocery, obviously needing help. I would drive past her and my heart would hurt for her. I wondered what her story entailed, to be at this point in her life and panhandling in downtown Atlanta. But I had specific goals for that day and just didn’t have time to stop and get involved. I told Dale about the “Cub Foods Lady” and we prayed for her. I began to look forward to my daily trips to Cub Foods, hoping to see her. After about a week of this, she wasn’t there. For three days in a row, she was missing. I was concerned for her and told myself and the Lord that if she was at her post when I came out of the grocery that day, I would stop and talk with her. Sure enough, there the Cub Foods Lady was, bags slung over her shoulders, red stringy hair sticking out from under a man’s hat. I knew what I was supposed to do. Heart racing, I pulled the car over to the side of the road and crossed to the median to introduce myself. The Cub Foods Lady’s real name was Vivian, and she looked and sounded more sick and sad up close than she did as I drove past her on previous days.
I still don’t remember how this happened, but before I knew it, Vivian was in my Honda Accord and we were driving back to the apartment. She helped me bring the groceries upstairs and I asked her if she would like something to eat, expecting that she was hungry. She said that what she mostly wanted was a bath. I drew the bath for her, with bubbles and everything and she removed her hat and the red wig that covered her bald head, covered with sores. She apologized for the way she looked and I began to cry and assure her that she had nothing to apologize for, that I was so sorry for the ways she had obviously been suffering, then left her to relax in the warm bath.
I had lost track of time while with Vivian and was quickly trying to get supper started when Dale arrived home after a long day at work. He probably had mixed emotions about what I would serve him that evening, as I still couldn’t cook broccoli without it burning and smelling up the place, but he didn’t focus on that and instead asked if I’d seen the Cub Foods Lady that day. He could never have expected my response, “I sure did…she’s in our bathroom.”
In today’s reading from the gospel of Luke, we hear different people asking Jesus questions, thinking that they know the answers He will give. But His answers are not at all what any of them expect.
Read Luke 10:25-11:13
Who is My Neighbor?
An expert in the law, trying to test Jesus’ knowledge and credibility asked Him how he could inherit eternal life. In Jesus fashion, He answered with a question, “what is written in the Law? How do you read it?” The expert quickly answered, “We recite it everyday - love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength - plus love your neighbor as yourself.” (from v 27) Jesus, pleased, responds, “Perfect! Do this and you will live.” (from v 28) The lawyer has Jesus right where he wants Him and asks Him an impossible question, “So, who’s my neighbor?” Unphased, Jesus replied, “Let me tell you a story…”
The Good Samaritan
A man was traveling along a well traveled road and was attacked by robbers and left to die. Both a priest and Levite saw him, a bloodied mess, but passed to the other side of the road. Were they in a hurry? Perhaps they couldn’t run the risk of being made unclean, if in fact, the man was dead. But then a Samaritan - a lowlife, just an inch above a Gentile in these Jewish listeners’ minds - sees the man barely breathing, shows him compassion and gives of his time and resources to help the man recover fully.
“Who was this man’s neighbor?” Jesus asked. With no other answer possible, the lawyer said, “I guess the one who showed him mercy.” Ding! Ding! Ding! You got it! “Now go and do the same.” (from vv 36-37)
The Right Choice
Next we get a glimpse into Jesus’ visit with Mary and Martha, as they are entertaining Him while in their village of Bethany. Mary was mesmerized by Jesus and was hanging on His every word. Meanwhile, Martha - the firstborn, task-oriented, “this meal isn’t going to fix itself” type - was frustrated with her little sister. But why? Did Jesus like Mary more than her? Did Martha want Jesus to see her and her acts of love and service? Maybe she was frustrated because she couldn’t hear what Jesus was saying - it wasn’t fair that Mary got to hear everything!
Finally, Martha couldn’t keep her feelings to herself any longer and blurted out, “Lord, don’t you care about me? Do you see and value me? Tell that sister of mine to help me!” (from v 40) Jesus gently called her by name twice. Not woman, or daughter, but “Martha, Martha you are worried and upset about so many things - whether I see and value you and your gifts of hospitality and service or whether I like Mary more than you. Mary has made the right choice - of feasting on the meal of My words and presence, and that will not be taken away from her by your attempts at shaming her.” (from vv 41-42) The scripture that Jesus quoted to the devil in the wilderness, from Deuteronomy 8:3 comes to mind, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”
God designed our physical bodies to need nourishment and Martha had played the role that women had traditionally filled in that culture. I imagine that she believed she didn’t have a choice; she was expected to provide nourishment for her guests. She was jealous of her sister’s ability to let everything go and just sit at Jesus’ feet, confident that cooking and cleaning would somehow happen.
We Want To Do That!
Jesus was praying, nothing new there, but this time when He finished His disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. Jesus didn’t bat an eye…or did He? Happy that His students wanted to learn how to commune with His Father God, Jesus may have also been hesitant as He knew how we humans love a checklist that so easily becomes law - say it in the right order, using the right words. Expect the unexpected to happen next, disciples! This is going to blow your minds!
The Lord’s Prayer
When you pray, start like this:
Father - Literally “Abba,” an intimate form of father, daddy; often a child’s first words.
Your name be honored as holy - This special form of intimate trust is also most holy and otherworldly.
Your kingdom come - The promised kingdom with no end? Bring it now!
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven - May Your plans be executed here as they are in heaven where there is no sin, no death, only the glory of Your presence, joy and peace.
Give us each day our daily bread - Just like the Israelites, help us to daily depend on You to provide for our physical and spiritual needs.
And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone in debt to us - Clean slates all around, please? Help us understand the distinct difference between our sinful rebellion against You and our desperate need for forgiveness versus our opportunity to release those who have wronged us in various ways.
And do not bring us into temptation - We can’t handle that! Please don’t lead us into a wilderness and season of temptation, but more importantly, protect us from the evil one who wants to steal, kill and destroy us.
This prayer is bold, while uncomfortably intimate. I imagine that Jesus’ students felt this was too much to ask of God and bordered on impertinence, lacking sensitivity to what is proper and respectful! What if they said it wrong and God gave them the opposite of what they asked?
Jesus explained that this intimate, closely connected and secure relationship is exactly what God desires to have with His children. Similar to how a dear friend will be inconvenienced in order to help or a good father listens to his children’s requests and gives them good, not evil gifts, our heavenly Father is the Giver of all good gifts and is delighted to give us the Holy Spirit! So Ask! It will be given to you. Seek! You will find it. Knock! The door will be opened to you. Expect the unexpected.
Big Picture Questions for Today:
Are there people in your community, along your commute to school or work each day who need you to see them? Who is your neighbor?
Are you like me and Martha, and have a hard time being present with the Lord and others when there are tasks that need to be completed? Maybe this question is just for me today, but do I work so hard on preparing my home and meals to bless those in my home or to set myself up as the best of the best?
Pray the Lord’s Prayer today, from the King James Version:
Our Father
Which art in heaven,
Hallow'd be Thy Name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our debts
As we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory
Forever and ever.
Amen.
