Slow Down and Abide
Posted on Jul 15, 2025 by Shari Van Baale
This Sunday’s Gospel reading is the story of when Jesus visits the home of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Mary stops what she is doing to listen to Jesus, but Martha is busy preparing for his visit. She has no time for her guest.
Martha complains to Jesus that Mary has left her to do all of the preparation. Perhaps she expects sympathy from Jesus by sharing her irritation with her sister. However, Jesus says to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, but few things are needed — indeed only one. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)
According to Working Preacher, “Martha’s worry and distraction prevent her from being truly present with Jesus, and cause her to drive a wedge between her sister and herself, and between Jesus and herself. She has missed out on the ‘one thing needed’ for true hospitality. … for Martha to receive the gracious presence of Jesus, to listen to his words, to know that she is valued not for what she does or how well she does it, but for who she is as a child of God.”
This story still resonates today. Sometimes we are so busy preparing for an event that we cannot enjoy it. We have a checklist of things to get done, and that can become more of a priority than the event itself.
Much like Martha, we need to slow down. Put down the phone, turn off the TV, and just be still. Listen to what God is saying to us. For if we don’t stop to pay attention, we might miss something very valuable.
Summer is the perfect time to slow down and abide in the presence of God. We might be surprised at what He has to say.
Shari Van Baale
Salem Communications Coordinator