Are You Distracted by Everything Around You?

It’s never been easy being a Christian. What was true two thousand years ago is still true. We are surrounded by distractions around every turn. It could be wealth. It could be power. It could just about anything that takes our attention away from God. Most of all, we are busy.

We live in a society that is hyper focused on staying busy. Even the smallest shop lately seems to be open 24 hours just so’ we can buy donuts at 3 o’clock in the morning. Let’s face it. The very thought of sitting for prayer and reflection sounds ‘too good’ to be true. It isn’t.

At that time, Jesus entered a village; and a woman called Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve you alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28

Like so many of us, Martha was distracted by many things. In her case, it was serving a nice meal. In our case, it might be earning a few more dollars. If it wasn’t bad enough that she was distracted, she insisted that her sister get up and help her.

It is tempting to see others in the Church and wonder “What do they do all day long?” “Why aren’t they working?” Is it our guilt that we aren’t in Church more? Would Martha have been any more correct if Mary ‘got up’ and helped serve? Who would sit with Christ? Would He be alone?

The Church used to be the center of our lives. We lived near the Church, not because we liked to see the bell tower. We lived near the Church so we could be inside praying more often. Now, most of us live ‘too far’ to be in Church often.

Church has become a pilgrimage rather than a way of life. Rather than living nearby, we make excuses why we can’t be there. “It’s too far.” “I have too many things to do.” Sounds just like Martha. Christ’s answer for us is the same as He offered to Martha.

Stop being distracted by everything and sit with Christ. “One thing is needful.” Intuitively we know we must change, but our lives have been ‘set’ so long. We don’t know how to change, or we don’t think we can change. Here’s some practical advice.

If you don’t already consider Sunday Liturgy as a “non-negotiable” for your life, begin there. The Sunday Liturgy has always been the standard ‘bare minimum’ for Christians. Ancient Christians would never have considered ‘skipping’ Sunday Liturgy. It was their life source. Ours too.

As many excuses as you can imagine, I have heard. My ‘favorite’ which is fueled by our preoccupation with being busy, is “Sunday is my only day to rest from work.” If that doesn’t sound like Martha, nothing does. Excuses are just another distraction.

There are six other days to work, but those days shouldn’t be void of God either. Consult with your spiritual father how you can grow closer to Christ. It will most likely mean making some changes in your life’s priorities. You might be scared you can’t do it. You can do it, if you want.

No matter how far from the Church you live, being to set aside special time during the week (once per month at first) to go to the Church and spend time with God inside His Church. He is physically present inside the Church, waiting for you. Start ‘small’ and build.

You will be amazed and refreshed after sitting with God inside His Church. There may or may not be services to attend, but even sitting alone with God is better than the distractions. You don’t have to be inside the Church every day all day, but you should want to sit with God.

You don’t have to move next week to live closer to the Church. I would suggest ‘at a minimum’ considering living as close as is possible when you are looking for a place to live. Commute times to Church are more important than commute times to work. Just ask Martha.

I’m not asking you to quit working. Even monastics work every day. I am asking you to challenge yourself to be more like Mary than Martha. “One thing is needful.” Everything else is just a distraction. It starts on Sundays but builds from there. See you in Church!