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And Jesus answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; but one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.
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Today’s message
Luke says: Mary also sat at Jesus' feet. She saw someone sitting and sat down; the Kingdom is made of mirrors, inspiration, and healthy replication. The problem arises when I do not set limits on my imitation. It was not wrong for Mary to sit because another sat; it would be wrong to stand just because another stood. I can be inspired by models, but only while they themselves are being modeled by Jesus. When someone rises from the presence, they cease to be a reference. Keep being inspired, yes; but remain critical and determined to stay at the feet, even if others rise.
I can feel Martha's pressure: the house is an ecosystem, and Mary's absence weighs on the kitchen's rotation, on the dishcloth, on the coffee that cools. Empathy, yes. But decision, too. Remember Levi? Jesus called him at the tax booth; he stood up and left stamps and receipts right there. The absence was felt. This is how it happens when you leave old structures to serve Jesus: they will miss you, they will call in the family group. One thing is to understand the void; another is to return to fill it. I chose: better is here, at the feet.
Four Times Jesus Called a Name Twice
- Simon, Simon — sifted, converted, and then strengthening the brothers.
- Saul, Saul — persecutor turned apostle and writer of many letters.
- Jerusalem, Jerusalem — lament and warning that preceded destruction decades later.
- Martha, Martha — many things trouble, but one thing is needed; choose.
Many things, only one. And Mary chose the good part, which will not be taken away from her.
Martha explodes: Do you not care? Not everything that matters to you matters to God. I mature when I stop demanding that He be the spokesperson for my complaints. Remember the storm? They said: Do you not care that we perish? Jesus was sleeping. Years later, Peter was sleeping in prison until the angel poked him. Instead of trying to disturb God with my restlessness, I absorb the peace He has. Reducing from many things to one thing is the path of sobriety: worship before service, presence before performance.
How to Choose the Good Part Today
- Sit at the feet of Jesus without blindly imitating those who have risen from His presence.
- Do not return to old positions you left to obey the call.
- Practice empathy, but confirm your vocation with Jesus — not with others' criticisms.
- Ask the Lord what He wants you to do; do not offer services He did not ask for.
- Reject using God for your complaints; seek greater decisions for the Kingdom.
I believe what He said: the good part will not be taken away. A believer may lose, but is not lost. You may lose schedule, applause, roles in yesterday's ecosystem; but you will keep the essential: life at the feet of Jesus. It is a matter of choice. Today, decide to reduce the noise to one voice, activism to devotion. Choose life, choose salvation, choose Jesus. If someone rises, I stay. If someone stops, I continue. Many things, only one — and I have already decided which.
Did you know
- In the Gospels, Jesus repeats names in four decisive calls: Simon, Saul, Jerusalem, and Martha.
- About 70 years after Jesus' ministry, Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70.
- Acts 12 reports that Peter was sleeping in prison and needed to be awakened by an angel.
Key phrases
- Not everything that matters to you matters to God.
- It would be a problem to rise just because another rose.
- Many things, only one. And Mary chose the good part, which will not be taken away from her.
- It is a matter of choice. Choose life, and you will live.
Translated from the Portuguese original.
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To seek today
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Você tem escolhido a melhor parte ?- Pr .Eduardo Gonçalves
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