Communication is God’s gift to humanity, containing many advantages and blessings. It makes us human and gives us the opportunity to develop as we come to know ourselves and those around us. Words spoken aloud influence both those who utter them and those who hear them. Our communication shapes our relationships, and our relationships influence and shape our future communication with one another.
Personal meetings with people dear to you always have an advantage over online communication. And when you can also be a blessing to a friend and receive that friend as God’s blessing to you, such things greatly gladden the heart and fill life with special meaning.
One day, Jesus came to visit His friends. He especially valued the comfort of a friendly home atmosphere and had dear friends in this world who did not travel with Him but were always glad to welcome Christ into their home.
Martha began preparing a large meal. She could not imagine failing to feed her guests and took the full responsibility for this useful activity upon herself. Perhaps she knew recipes for delicious kosher food and began putting that knowledge into practice. But suddenly she realized that her sister was occupied with the wrong thing and was in no hurry at all to join her. Every hint and appeal for help was ignored. Martha could not accept such disorder and lack of organization, so she decided to state her opinion directly to the One Who could very quickly change the course of events. But to her surprise, she heard no words of support. Instead, she received a gentle reproof explaining that, in His eyes, her sister Mary was more blessed than the one who desired to prepare a large meal and send everyone away well fed.
We do not know how this story ended—whether Mary went into the kitchen or Martha sat down at Christ’s feet—but Jesus’ view of the incident was quite clear.
When the gathering of friends from our School was being planned, I dreamed mainly about the spiritual blessings and advantages of the gathering and completely overlooked the fact that we would need something to eat. In the simplicity of my heart, I thought we could make do with canned food, fresh fruit, and sandwiches, considering the spiritual program more important. But the reality of the situation revealed my incompetence in organizational matters, and we had to establish order and a duty schedule on the spot. Fortunately, by the third day, everyone accepted these rules with understanding.
I knew that all my friends would come to this meeting and that I was directly responsible for the gathering. Therefore, I prepared myself to communicate with everyone and enter into deeper relationships with people who had so greatly desired to see me in person. I was even prepared to sleep very little if only I could answer the questions and needs of those who wanted to speak with me. I understand that the program of our School is very intensive and requires additional answers in private.
To my surprise, the work in the kitchen and maintaining order in the house caused more concern and interest than what I wanted to share. Serious mistakes in the organization of our event were revealed, and within the resulting conflict I saw both strong and weak aspects.
The excessive sense of responsibility among those who placed order above everything else at the meeting introduced a spirit of division, and quick decisions had to be made in order to settle everything. I very much wanted to ease the worries and labor of the ‘Marthas,’ who worked like little bees for the common good. Yet my heart thirsted for fellowship with those who were interested in communicating more closely. I had to seek out such people myself and carefully guide the conversation while respecting the choices and interests of my friends.
The trip to the mountains showed that a great deal of time could be saved by preparing fruit and sandwiches. The ‘Marthas’ rested in body and soul, giving God the opportunity to feed us with the beauty of pristine nature.
From the experience of previous camp meetings, I noted that whenever we must prepare our own food, the kitchen becomes a battlefield where some people reveal interesting aspects of character that were not visible in other situations.
Kitchen wars are not welcome in Heaven. They represent the most improper spirit for relationships. The commandment to love one another also extends to every kitchen in the world as territory in which God’s Spirit should reign.
Taking this into account, I boldly took it upon myself to become the person in charge of the kitchen so that every test of my love would be directed toward me. Although I never actually became the person in charge, I was still able to practice love and teach lessons of meekness and patience.
It is very difficult for Martha to become Mary, because the excessive responsibility she has placed upon herself and her sisters prevents her from seeing the spiritual blessings she could receive together with the others if she laid down this burden.
To me, a plate of greens and an unwashed floor accompanied by love are far more valuable than an elegant arrangement accompanied by a revolutionary spirit. The use of force provokes a reaction that not everyone can accept, and misunderstanding follows—something only unconditional love can destroy.
Jesus established the priorities very clearly and showed Martha what He valued most and what would bring the greatest blessings in the future. Mary chose that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
God permits many situations that reveal from every direction how strong or weak we are in certain matters. Even in the events described above, there were those who, like a rock, maintained a joyful spirit and were always ready to participate in any activity whenever there was a request or a need. A daily schedule and duty roster resolved every conflict very quickly and brought peace.
It is written that the fruit of the Spirit is temperance. If Martha has prepared a large meal and placed this abundance before me, that does not mean she should be blamed for my overeating or lack of self-control. A table set with a variety of foods should not deprive me of my right to choose. I decided to eat what would not become a burden to me, even if someone considered my restraint disrespectful.
In the end, the entire gathering took place in a spirit of love and friendship. When we began ‘eating’ another friend during a meal, all the kitchen misunderstandings were forgotten, and God’s mercy enfolded us in the embrace of love and friendship. We immersed ourselves in the world of a delightful friend, seeking to develop within ourselves the wonderful ability to see every positive quality in another person. These abilities grew stronger in each of us with every new meal.
Love always and everywhere seeks opportunities to establish its banner and principles. No matter how difficult or unexpected the trials may be, a spirit of love and respect for a person’s choice helps us find the best solution to every problem.
Jesus loved Martha, and later He performed the most extraordinary miracle for her by raising her brother from the dead. We also should not forget that Martha is a member of God’s family who sees everything as life has taught her to see it, while the Lord desires to teach her what will never be taken away from her.
Although spending time with Mary may involve a brief fast, she provided greater nourishment for the soul. The heart of Jesus can also nourish today the soul of everyone who has something to share.
Bible Verses for Reflection
Luke 10:38–42; Romans 14:17; 1 Timothy 5:8; 6:6–8; John 6:55; 13:34–35; Proverbs 13:12; 15:17; Philippians 2:12–14; Jeremiah 29:11–12; 1 John 3:18; 4:7–8, 11, 21; 1 Corinthians 8:2–3.