The Path is Narrow

Ordained in 2014 as an Episcopal priest, Rebecca began as a parishioner in our congregation decades ago, studied (endured?) seven years of seminary while holding a full-time job, and is now the Associate Priest at Holy Child and St. Martin in Daly City.

Because of all the personal, financial, and professional obstacles she's had to overcome, Rebecca has always had a no-nonsense air about her, much like over-stressed medical school graduates with too much to do and too little sleep. She was today's guest minister, and the Rebecca I saw was kinder, less guarded, and more empathetic than the person I remembered.

If one spends all day thinking about what's important--and dealing with people on that basis--it changes a person. Fittingly, today's Gospel was about Mary and Martha, which used to be regarded as a "women's story" but applies to everyone:

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.” [NIV Luke 10:38-42]

For the record I've always identified with Martha, who tended to her responsibilities, vs. slacker Mary who ignored Martha and listened to Jesus' speech. A different lesson from the story, however, is that we can easily be distracted by the busy, essentially unimportant things that occupy our time.

Being able to recognize the difference, and acting appropriately, is one reason the path is narrow.