A Message from our Pastor
Gus and the One Thing Necessary
The Lord answered her,
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary.
Mary has made the right choice,
and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42
I could hardly bear the smell but I couldn’t leave. “I apologize for the mess,” he said. “So, what have you been up to lately?” I shouted. He looked down. “Just sitting here waiting to die.” What could I say?
Every time I visited, we came to this point. We talked about the weather, his previous work, even about his kids who hadn’t visited him in years, but it always came back to this thought. “Nothing to do. Just waiting to go home.” He was right. He had nothing to do. Ninety-some years old, living in a rented room, dark ruts worn into the carpet in lazy lines from the armchair to the bathroom and down the hall to his single bed. He hadn’t showered, waiting for the nurse who came by once a week. “Well, why don’t we get on with it then?” he said. “I know you’re busy.” We prayed, I gave him communion, and went out of the house. I took a breath, started my car, and almost felt like I was escaping.
It was hard to see a man like that. I visited Gus and always hoped to bring him some comfort, but was never sure if my visits cheered him. I pulled into the church’s parking lot and got back to work. There was a lot to do and I needed to be productive. But as I did, I realized that all of my busyness and striving could never save me from becoming Gus.
What’s your schedule like? Wondering how to fill up the time? Or racing around so fast, you wish you could slow down the clock? Is there any spare time at all? Maybe you’re even wondering what a schedule is because yours is dictated for you by responsibilities and burdens you never expected. For just one moment, step back and realize that nothing you are doing will ever save you from becoming Gus.
Let the Lord’s words come to you today. “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary.” We might think that what is necessary changes based on needs and circumstances, but God says only one thing is necessary. Mary didn’t sit at Jesus’ feet because she had nothing to do. There was plenty of work to get done, but she just had something more important to do. The eternal Lord offered His Word to her and with it forgiveness and life. She was going to take the time regardless of what was left undone.
The truth is everything can be taken away from us. And someday we may end up sitting with Gus, wondering when we can go home. What will be necessary at that point will not be how good our kids were at basketball, or how much money we made, or even what we did for the church. What will matter are the words that welled up tears in Gus’ eyes, “The true body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you in the true faith, until life everlasting. Your sins are forgiven.”
Christ was crucified for you! That message, received through Word and Sacrament, is the one thing necessary. It is the bond of peace that focuses you in the years of busyness and the cord of strength that sustains you when your time on earth becomes a desert drear. It is the truth that will save any and all who listen to the Word. It is the one thing necessary that secures for an everlasting home where there is no stress or anxiety, no deadlines or bills, no comparison or judgment, no age restrictions, and no death.
If you are looking for a church home, we encourage you to consider First Lutheran! We love to share the Good News of our Savior and the help that God’s Word gives to our everyday lives! Our congregation consists of people like you from every part of our nation. People seeking a sense of belonging and an opportunity for worship, growth and fellowship. May you find grace and blessing in the time we spend together. We would love to tell you more about our congregation.
First Lutheran Preschool provides a Christian education that nurtures the spiritual, intellectual, and personal growth of each child. The preschool provides another means for First Lutheran Church to bring the Word and love of God in Christ Jesus to more families.
Special thanks to those in the Armed Forces! We welcome our military and others far from home. We pray for you.