She, Herself & God
The Meekness of Mary of Bethany
“Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what He taught.” (Luke 10:39)
It was April last year when my mother and I visited her youth pastor and his wife. And while the two women were busy talking to one another, I took the chance to ask the pastor about his life experiences specifically his spiritual walk. To my surprise, the pastor enjoyed my presence and gladly answered all my questions. He really took a trip down memory lane, and I felt like I joined him on his journey back to the past. I eagerly listened to every story and even ignored my mother whenever she would tell me to stop bothering the pastor. I only stopped when I realized it was already getting late and that we should be going home. But deep inside, I wished we had a longer time; for I learned so much from the pastor. I suddenly felt like a child who still had a lot to know about the world, about life, and about God.
So I think I understand it now why Mary of Bethany chose to sit at the Lord’s feet when Jesus visited them. She was not being lazy at all. She just took the chance to talk to their Guest instead of busily preparing a meal like what Martha did. She must have had lots of questions that Christ gladly answered because He enjoyed Mary’s presence. She must have eagerly listened to Jesus and ignored her sister as well whenever she would tell her to stop bothering the Messiah. And perhaps, she must have wished she also had a longer time with the Savior when it was finally time for Him to leave. Mary must have learned so much from Christ and felt like a child too, who still had a lot to know about the world, about life, and about God.
This year, as we face an unknown future, may we be like Mary of Bethany who will sit at the Lord’s feet, listening to what He is teaching. May we take that chance to be in His presence and to ask Him questions instead of dictating the answers that we want to hear from Him. May we listen to His voice and ignore all the noises around us and even within us so that His message will be crystal clear. And may we follow His instructions, as He teaches us more about the world, about life, and about Himself. After all, we gained a new identity in Jesus ever since the day we accepted His gift of salvation. Thus, our citizenship is now in heaven and not in this world.
As a woman of God and a citizen of heaven, each of us should have the meekness of Mary. Each of us should welcome the Lord to our homes and delight in His presence. Each of us should no longer bother doing kitchen duties and preparing physical food that will never satisfy us because our special Guest is already here with us, giving us spiritual food that will never make us hungry again. He has visited us, and He just wants us to sit at His feet and listen to what He will teach. And just like Mary of Bethany, each of us should know our ultimate Priority, which comes not in the form of a goal, a dream, or a bucket list but in the form of a Person found in Christ alone.
Almighty Father, we thank You for teaching us the lesson of meekness, which refers to the quality of our hearts as Christian women willing to accept and to submit without resistance to Your will and desire. We thank You for the example set by Mary of Bethany because we know now who our Priority should be. And as we begin another year, we seek Your presence, Your protection, Your provision, and Your peace so that we can be assured that 2022 will be Your year and not ours. We pray to obey Your holy will today, tomorrow, and forever. All these we ask in the Name of our ultimate Priority: our Lord, Savior, and King Jesus. Amen.
