Jesus visits Mary and Martha

Imaginative contemplation is a way of getting to know and even meeting Christ in the gospels. The ultimate goal is personal encounter with him. Take your time with this kind of prayer. God is in no rush . . . .

As you listen and pray through this exercise, feel free to press pause and take more time when you need it. If it seems that you or the Holy Spirit want to take a different direction than I am leading you, go where you need to go.

As you begin, be still, and let God look at you, or be with you . . .

Notice how you are at the start of prayer: what is on your mind? . . . in your heart? . . . how is your body today? . . . Acknowledge how you are before God . . .

What are you seeking in this prayer? . . . Do you want to get to know Jesus better? Do you hope for an encounter with him? Let God know.

First we familiarise ourselves with the passage:

Luke 10:38-42


 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’

Begin to see this scene in your mind’s eye . . . Jesus is there, the two women, possibly some disciples . . . where are you in the scene? . . . and who are you? . . . one of the named characters or another person, a friend perhaps . . . . . .

Our scene begins as Jesus enters a certain village, probably Bethany, close to Jerusalem. He is welcomed into the home of Martha, the sister of Mary. Take some time to imagine him arriving at a place of rest. How does this small village look to you? Don’t worry about historical accuracy or exact details . . . let a few simple houses come into view . . . be there in the scene . . . where are you? . . . see Jesus arrive from your perspective . . . is he alone or in company? . . . notice the landscape . . . any vegetation . . . the weather . . . the temperature . . . the time of day . . . feel the sun’s warmth on your face and hands or the cool of the evening . . . notice the clothes you’re wearing . . . the sounds of the place . . . the smells . . . the mood . . . if you need more time, take it. Otherwise, we’ll let the scene unfold . . .

Watch as Martha greets Jesus and welcomes him into her home . . . . . . he enters the house, perhaps others do too . . . where are you now? . . . Mary greets him too . . . Jesus takes a seat . . . how does he seem to you? . . . Mary stays with him taking the place of a disciple: at his feet . . . She’s listening to him . . . what is he saying? . . . do you catch any of it? . . . . . .

Turn your attention to Martha . . . she’s preparing the meal . . . notice her activity . . . her mood . . . her feelings . . . perhaps a glance towards Mary still sitting with Jesus . . . what’s going on for Martha? . . . . . . and then, she decides to do something about it . . . watch as she goes to Jesus and makes her complaint . . . “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work on my own? Tell her to help me.” . . . how does she say these words? . . . what is this like for Mary? . . . notice as Jesus looks at Martha . . . and then responds to her, “Martha, Martha, (how does he say her name?) . . . you’re worrying about so many things and missing the most important. Mary has chosen the better part here. It will not be taken from her.” . . . Is that what you hear? . . . notice the effect on Martha . . . on Mary . . . on Jesus . . . on yourself . . .

The narrative ends there but not the story . . . let it continue in your mind’s eye and ear . . . follow Martha if you wish . . . speak to her . . . allow this scene to continue in some way that is unforced . . . play your part in it . . . give yourself an opportunity to speak with Mary or Jesus too . . . take your time . . . . . .