March 20th, 2026 | Rev. Rachel Williams

Beloved Friends,

               Pastor Charlie and I continue to read through the Gospel of Luke during this Lenten season and reflect on the life, ministry, personhood and divinity of Jesus. This week, I want to offer some thoughts from Monday’s reading. On Monday, our series guide indicated had us reading Luke 10:25-42. As you start to read, you’ll notice this passage begins with the very familiar, and very challenging, Good Samaritan passage.

Charlie and I used this passage in discussion with our Wednesday night Lenten study, challenging participants to ask the question “Who is my neighbor?” from a current-day lens while also asking, “who is it that might irk me or frustrate me today?”. Who might those people be for you? How does your re-framing of the story of the Good Samaritan change your interactions with those around you? Go back and read the story with those questions in mind.

               The second portion of the passage focuses on Jesus’ engagement with the sisters Mary and Martha. Mary sits in rapt attention at Jesus’ feet while Martha busies herself with all of the things that need to be done to prepare the meal and house. Martha grows frustrated by her sister’s lack of care to her duties, and she makes her gripes known to Jesus. My suspicion is she thought Jesus would back her up, but Jesus returns with this comment, “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. “I hear Jesus saying to Martha, “Calm down- do not worry about going over the top. Simple offerings of hospitality will do if it means you spend more time with me.” Likewise, how often do we get caught up with tasks and logistics and miss encounters with Jesus in our every day lives?

As we continue to focus in on God’s transformative love in our lives, especially in these last few weeks of Lent, might we spend a little less time fretting about details and “things we have to do” and more time with the people who show us exactly who Jesus is? Continue to dwell on the values you hold and the ways in which you pursue Christ with those values, and may it all be for the glorification of the Lord.

With Love and Peace,

Pastor Rachel