The Sixth Sunday After Pentecost - July 20, 2025 - The Reverend Nan Doerr, Celebrant Artwork

The Preaching Moment

A moment each week when all is well for a mom and priest. The sermons of Mother Suzanne Weidner-Smith, Rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Alvin, Texas. The Rev. Suzanne Smith came to Grace, Alvin, first as Deacon-in-Charge in July 2018, after graduation from the Seminary of the Southwest with a Diploma in Anglican Studies in May 2018. She was ordained to the Episcopal Priesthood in January 2019, and since 2020, has been the Rector of Grace. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree at A&M in Corpus Christi, she went to Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary, where she earned a Master of Divinity degree, and was ordained a minister in the Baptist Church. In the first decade of her ministry, Suzanne was a practicing Hospice Chaplain, where she learned how to provide pastoral care at the bedside of patients transitioning from this world to the next. Listening to their stories, and telling stories of her own, she realized the power of sharing the Gospel in story form. Passionate about liturgy, she weaves scripture and story to communicate the Gospel today. Suzanne is the proud mother of Luke, Noah, and Andrew. Together, they enjoy Cub and Boy Scouts, soccer, and basketball.

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The Preaching Moment

The Sixth Sunday After Pentecost - July 20, 2025 - The Reverend Nan Doerr, Celebrant

December 21, 2025 • The Reverend Suzanne Weidner-Smith • Season 4 • Episode 30

Summary

Mother Nan Doerr explores the Gospel story of Mary and Martha, arguing that Jesus criticized Martha not for working, but for being distracted by anxiety and the need for perfection. She emphasizes that Jesus loves us as we are and wants us to balance productive work with simply spending time in His presence, rather than getting so caught up in doing things for Him that we forget to just be with Him.

THE GOSPEL Luke 10:38-42

As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "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."

Artwork: Martha and Mary, by He Qi

Mother Nan Doerr:

I envy that perfect hostess who has everything done, dinner prepared, the house immaculate is dressed to the nines and ready to visit and entertain when the guests arrive. I envy them because that's normally not me. When we have guests over, if I get through my preparations before my guests arrive, I usually only have about 15 minutes to shower, put on makeup and get dressed. And then I still need to put the food out or finish baking the rolls. Usually I'm a Mary, but here in today's gospel, we have Martha doing what I usually do and Mary doing what I want to do.

The ancient theological argument has traditionally been about works versus faith. Whole religious orders are forged along those two lines. Some orders are service oriented with nuns and monks going out to do good works among the population, such as working in hospitals or schools, teaching and healing. While other orders remain sequestered in hollowed halls, praying for the world and spending their time in quiet contemplation of the Lord. But that may not be what this is about. Let's go back to the practical aspects of this story. We don't know why Mary wasn't doing anything or why Martha seemed to be doing all the work. We only know that Jesus tells Martha she is distracted by many things.

Scenario one, maybe they knew Jesus was coming, so Mary got up early and finished her work so she would have time to visit once he got there. And maybe Martha decided to sleep in and do her jobs at the last minute, thereby being rushed and feeling like she needed help. Or scenario number two, maybe they didn't know ahead of time he was coming. And so when he showed up, Mary got busy doing all the necessary things to prepare a place for him. Did I say Mary? I met Martha or whatever. And Mary chose to sit and listen instead of working at the time. Maybe she planned to do her work later. The one thing we do know is that Jesus chastises Martha for being distracted, not for working, not for not having things done, but for being distracted. I know about being distracted. When I sit down to write a sermon, I'm sitting down to visit with Jesus and I can get distracted by all kinds of things.

I see that the dishes need to be washed. I need to pay a bill. I need to put the food out for the cat. My plants on the front porch need to be watered. I get hot and I need to turn up the AC or turn on a fan. Somebody calls or I get a text message and I need to answer. I check my email and find an article that looks interesting and so I start reading it. I decide that I need some exercise.

Okay, so I won't walk all that long. But there are a number of times when I think of an appropriate song, so I sit down and play the piano. Or I find a dozen other distractions. Anyone who has a problem with ADD will know exactly what I'm talking about. My intentions are good, but my follow through may get sidelined, sidetracked. One of the classes we had in seminary was about praying with scripture. We met one hour a week as an extension of our Bible studies class. The text was a book called The Word is Very Near You.

This was the last line of our New Testament reading last week. The word is very near you. The idea behind the class was that seminary is very academically oriented and in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of study, we need to take time out to just be still and know God. The prayer session was led by a senior student and a group of about eight of us would gather in a room with couches and easy chairs. A candle was placed on the coffee table and the senior would lead us in a time of personal prayer. We talked about our understanding of prayer and one young seminarian commented, "I don't have to pray. My whole life is a prayer. Hopefully as ministers of the word, our whole life is a prayer, but that doesn't necessarily absolve us from spending time in prayer. Even Jesus spent time in prayer.

That is one of the reasons that I'm such a proponent of Christio. In Christio, there is a plan that balances the elements of Mary and Martha, of doing work for Jesus and spending time in his presence.

One commentary I read suggested that Martha's distractions were produced by anxiety and that anxiety was produced by her insecurities, her belief that she needed to be productive to have everything perfect in order to be loved. I can understand that. And I even like it as an explanation because it's a lot like me. I can understand that, but I can also hear Jesus saying, Martha, you don't have to have everything done in order to please me. I don't care if the whatnot shelf isn't dusted or if the meal's a little late being put on the table.

I want to visit with you. Spend time with you while I am here. That's often our fear that we're not good enough, that we need to do something in order to be accepted. And Jesus tells us to slow down, that he loves us just as we are. He is telling us not to get so tied up in the details of working for him that we forget to just be with him. So whether you're a Martha or a Mary, I'd like to leave you with a prayer by Clara month priest. Lord of all pots and pans and things, since I'm not time to be a saint by doing lovely things or watching late with thee, or dreaming in the dawn light or storming heaven's gates. Make me a saint by getting meals and washing up the plates. Though I must have Martha's hands, I have a merry mind.

And when I black the boots and shoes, your sandals, Lord, I find. I think of how they trod the earth. Each time I scrub the floor. Accept this meditation, Lord. I have a time for more with your love and light it with your peace. Forgive me all my worrying and make my grumbling cease. You who love to give me in food and room or by the sea. Accept this service that I do. I do it unto thee.