GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 10:38-42 [Jesus and Mary and Martha]
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lordfs feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."
But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

Jesus was at the home of his friends Mary and Martha and their brother Lazareth. Martha was very busy preparing a meal for their visitor and his disciples. She is fixing snacks and appetizers for everyone and it is a lot of work, she is very busy. Meanwhile, her sister Mary is sitting at Jesusf feet and listening to his teaching. Martha thinks Mary is lazy. Martha needs help in the kitchen. Mary won't listen to her, so Martha asks Jesus to tell Mary to help. "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."

Jesus tells Martha to relax and not to worry about serving him something to eat. The snacks and appetizers are not necessary. The only thing necessary is the main course. Mary has already chosen from the menu. It will not be taken from her, she will not go hungry. In other words, Jesus says that the main course that day is the meal that he provides. He gives the bread of life. He gives the word of God. And Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus to get the first serving, the good portion. Jesus is at the home of Mary and Martha, but he is the host. He is giving a feast of the Word of God.

You probably have seen the food pyramid. It helps us see what food is the most important for a healthy diet. The most important food is on the bottom, the base that supports our health. That is bread and rice and that food group. The next layer is the fruit and vegetable groups. We need them for various nutrients and vitamins. We need less of them, but they are important. Then the next layer is the meat and dairy groups. Then the top is sweets and appetizers. Not that sweets are the most important, but that it is the smallest group, the least important group for our health. The food pyramid teaches that if you eat only candy and cake and cheese and meat, that you will not have a healthy diet, it will be top-heavy and collapse into malnutrition or diseases like diabetes or high blood pressure. So, we need to have a well balanced diet based on bread, vegetables and fruit.

I made this chart, the Christian Food Pyramid. At the bottom is the foundation, the Bread of Life. The Bread of Life is the Word of God. This is as in the passage that says, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." The Bible is the foundation of the church. Jesus said we should build on this foundation. Mt. 7:24. "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." And the content of that word is the law and gospel of God that points us to the salvation in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I am the bread of life." John 6:51. The next level in my chart has the sacraments and worship. The sacraments of baptism and the Lordfs Supper bring that promise of God in his word to us. The word brings us forgiveness. The word brings us eternal life. We celebrate this in worship. Worship is when we read the Bible and receive the forgiveness of sins. Worship is when we pray and praise. The next level is Christian love and fellowship and service. At the top I have put fun. There can be a lot of fun in the church.

Fun is just as important as a piece of apple pie in the food pyramid, but it is not what sustains our faith in God. For example, at some time in your life you are feeling worried about something. What in your Christian life is going to sustain you? Will the youth group ice cream social give you the courage you need? Will the church bazaar give you strength to withstand temptation and doubt? You need the solid foundation. You need the Bible. You need the promise of God. You need the grace given in the sacraments. You need Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection is the basis for our life. Here is forgiveness. Forgiveness removes the shaky foundation of sin. Forgiveness removes the shaky foundations that we make by our pride. Forgiveness prepares the feast of the Word of God.

Mary was feasting on the word of God, listening intently on the words of Jesus. Martha was preparing snacks. Jesus spoke kindly to her. "Martha, Martha. Donf worry about the appetizers, have the main course. Listen to the word of God."

Jesus is not the guest. He is the Host. Today we are here to receive his word. It is the main course of the bread of live.

Amen.

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