Mary discovered what was essential. 

Two sisters received Jesus differently. One had a Me First attitude, while the other had a Jesus First attitude. Martha referred to herself three times in verses 39 and 40. Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, listening to him teach. For her, the main course was not the meal to come but feasting on the Bread of Life. 

Have you discovered what Mary did? Have you chosen life’s ultimate concern?

John 11 gives us deeper insight into the hearts and discipleship of both Mary and Martha. They both understood Jesus at a level few others had arrived at, including his closest disciples. The moment in Luke 10 must be combined with John 11 to see both sisters as devoted disciples of Jesus. 

The photograph and memories from Luke 10 tell their own kind of story. It is less of a contrast and more of a spotlight. Take a good look at Mary. Martha is dutiful and responsible. She has many details to cover and complete for the biggest dinner party of her life. She is host to Jesus, a man with healing in his hands and words of truth and life on his tongue. 

Martha can distract us if we are not careful, but keep your eyes on Mary. Mary, likely the younger sister. Mary, the dreamer of the two, the one who often fell into deep pondering accompanied by a thousand-yard stare. Some ideas are too big to take in all at once, far too big to express using normal means. For her, some moments were too big, too good to miss. 

Jesus was in the room. He filled it with hope, purpose, beauty, wonder, and love, the kind of love that drives out fear, the kind of love that sets everyone at ease, the kind of love that overflows, refreshes, and restores.

She lowered herself into a place just big enough for her. Eyes focused, ears attentive, heart beating faster than normal, but not so fast as to lead to distraction. There was only one place in the whole universe she wanted to be at that moment, and she was there. There was only one thing she wanted to do, and she was doing it. 

Mary may have been the original Essentialist. (See Greg McKeown’s book, _Essentialism_.) 

Of all the things on your agenda today, what among them is truly essential? 

For the disciple of Jesus, essentialism includes hearing him clearly, obeying him immediately, walking with him continually, expressing his grace and mercy abundantly. Essentialism begins with sitting at his feet. It also includes rising to serve. It extends to living and loving like Jesus where we live, work, and play. 

—

I will become an essentialist and give Jesus the positive, focused attention he deserves and we all need.

—

Our Father, teach us to focus on you and avoid unnecessary distractions. Teach us how to adjust our lives and schedules to prioritize knowing and experiencing you. Teach us how to accomplish the things before us in a manner that does not drive us away from what is truly essential. Amen.