Jesus' Invitation to You

I have a confession to make. I have never completed any Advent plan I have ever had. Not a single one.

I just plain forget.

I have tried and even bought all sorts of things to help me. But every December, just about now, I drift off into a fog of Christmas activities, to-do lists, and end of year tiredness. And then, I wake up on the 23rd and realize I missed most of Advent.

This year I didn’t make it two days before I broke my “treats fast”. I absentmindedly ate a Mackintosh toffee and did not even realize it for a half an hour.

I get so busy preparing that I am completely distracted.

Luke writes about another distracted person:

“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.” (Luke 10:38-42)

I wish I identified with Mary but I see so much of myself in Martha.

I am distracted by many things and this year it is more than just presents and festive foods. It’s all the things I have tried to ignore or kept at bay since March - fear, loss, grief, worry, and all that I thought 2020 might be but wasn’t.

Jesus might as well have been speaking those words to me.

The problem is that I do not like what Jesus says to Martha and I feel immediately defensive.

I can hear my inner voice responding with,

““Well…if no one makes the food it won’t get made and we’ll all starve!”

“Somebody has to do the work Jesus, do you think the house just cleans itself?!?!”

I push back against Jesus and defend Martha because I am too much like her, this year more than ever.

But if I can get past my own defensiveness, I can hear Jesus better.

There is no doubt that He tells it to her straight but He also shows her a way forward. He calls her from her preoccupation into a better way, into the way of life giving abundance. He shows her what will truly satisfy her and it turns out it isn’t a checked off to-do list.

Jesus sees Martha and the burdens she carries without need. He can see her desire to please Him and make things nice. But Jesus does not need anything from Martha except her attention. 

He invites her to be like Mary and come and sit at His feet.

Our distracted hearts have one, simple (though not easy) solution - sitting at the feet of Jesus.

Martha starts off with good, hospitable intentions - she welcomes Jesus into her home. But Mary understood the deeper intimacy - she abides with Jesus. Mary makes her home at his feet and that choice is of lasting significance.

It can never be taken from her.

It’s isn’t easier to sit at Jesus’ feet. It is easier to be Martha, in some ways. It is easier to rush about and make preparations and tick the boxes.

But it is in no way better.

We are a crazy people, willing to run ourselves ragged so that we do not have to sit still and be taught and listen.

This Advent, Jesus is inviting you and me to come with no agenda or checklists and bask in the beauty of His love. He is inviting you to sit at His feet and be satisfied by the only thing that is needed - Jesus himself.

Can you hear the words of Jesus calling to you this December?

He will welcome you in. Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden…

His grace extends to you, no matter how much of your Advent plan you accomplish - … and I will give you rest.

He has made space for you at his feet, right up close, and near. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart…

He is a safe place for you to abide. “..and you will find rests for your souls.”

He will quiet your distracted heart and busy mind and teach you the better way. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

This Advent, hear the voice of Jesus. Hear him calling you to throw off all that is not needed and place your heart, mind, and soul in the hands of the only one that is needed.

Draw close and gaze upon His beautiful face. The face of God made man. The face of grace itself. The face of Jesus - the deliverer, the rescuer, the Saviour.