An Unshakable Life: Holiness in a World of Distraction
Amos 8:1-12, Colossians 1:15-28, Luke 10:38-42
EUMC & BCUMC, July 20, 2025,
Proper 11c
An important theme in today's texts is Staying Focused on
Priorities – Staying Focused on the Moment.
Today's Gospel text – the story about Martha and Mary – is
often unfairly and incorrectly used to say devotion to Christ is more important
than service. That's not what's happening here.
Jesus values service and action – remember the Parable of
the Good Samaritan that comes right before this – context is important.
The Greek word used here is diakonos (meaning
“servant” or “minister”) and it embodies the Christian calling to live out
faith through service. It reflects the church’s mission to care for others
through acts of charity, compassion, and justice.
This sacred responsibility takes many forms: humanitarian
aid, working for social justice, and outreach to vulnerable communities.
Diakonia, this service) isn’t just a program—it’s a theological conviction that
serving others is central to the life of faith.
In many Christian traditions, this concept is embodied in
the role of deacons, ordained leaders who support both church and community.
Their ministry includes practical assistance and pastoral care, modeling
Christlike service.
At its heart, diakonia is an invitation to active
love—engaging the world with humility, mercy, and a commitment to meet the
needs of others as a visible witness of God’s grace. It reflects the belief that serving others is
a core expression of faith.
Martha's problem wasn't in serving, it was that she was
distracted. In this case the many aspects and concerns of serving and a desire
to be hospitable was distracting her from something that was truly significant
in that moment: hearing the teaching of Jesus.
Martha was distracted!
The KJV uses the word cumbered instead of distracted. The word cumber comes from the Middle English 'cumbren' which means to annoy, harass, or defeat. It makes me think of that lone, pesky housefly that continues to fly by my ear or land on my nose. It's the experience of trying to watch a film in the theater when the people around you are talking or scrolling through their brightly lit phones. The Greek word – περισπάω (perispao) – means to be pulled around or jerked about.
Distracted Away from Christ
In our Epistle reading for today Paul addresses the heresies
and false teachings that distract the Colossians from Christ. These teachings
distracted believers from the sufficiency of Christ, suggesting they needed
more than Jesus to be spiritually complete.
He confronts the heresies threatening the church with
a Christ-centered response that reorients their focus and
affirms the sufficiency of Jesus. These teachings distracted believers
from the sufficiency of Christ, suggesting they needed more than Jesus to be
spiritually complete.
He reminds us…
1. Christ Is Supreme
- “He
is the image of the invisible God… all things were created through Him and
for Him” (Colossians 1:15–16)
- Paul
affirms Jesus as Creator, Sustainer, and Head of the Church,
countering any diminished view of Christ
2. Christ Is Sufficient
- “In
Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ
you have been brought to fullness” (Colossians 2:9–10)
- No
need for mystical intermediaries or legalistic rituals—Christ alone
completes us
3. Christ Is the Source of True Knowledge
- Paul
uses terms like “wisdom,” “understanding,” and “knowledge” to
show that spiritual insight is found in Christ, not secret
teachings (Colossians 2:2–3)
4. Christ Has Defeated Spiritual Powers
- “He
disarmed the powers and authorities… triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians
2:15)
- Paul
exposes angel worship and spiritual elitism as unnecessary and misleading
5. Christ Frees Us from Legalism
- “Do
not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink… These are a shadow of
the things to come; the reality is found in Christ” (Colossians
2:16–17)
- Rituals and regulations are obsolete shadows compared to the substance of Christ
Jesus Calls Our Focus to be on the Moment
Jesus reminds us that there is a time to serve or act and a
time to "be still" in his presence.
Remember last week, the story of Jesus and the lawyer talking about who
is my neighbor leads to the Parable of the Good Samaritan which reminds us of
those times to act. Today's story tells us that there are those times to
"be still" and be in Christ's Presence. Understand in the moment what
God is calling us to do.
In today's Gospel text Martha is distracted from a precious
moment of being with Christ. Those distractions suffocate the word that Jesus
has to share.
In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, Luke 8:4-15) Jesus warns about the seed that falls into thorny soil: "As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing." Matthew 13:22
Distractions lead to Famine.
Amos talks about how distractions pull us away from our love
of God and neighbor.
The Israelites were distracted by wealth, power, and
prestige. They allowed those distractions to pollute their worship of God and
the care of the poor. The prophet proclaimed that religious practices were
being used to mask societal injustice. Rather than correcting exploitation or
oppression, people participated in festivals and sacrifices believing they
fulfilled their spiritual obligations, while ignoring the suffering of the
poor.
He describes Israel’s elite as those who “lie on beds of
ivory… who sing idle songs… who drink wine in bowls” (Amos 6:4-6), illustrating
how their preoccupation with luxury led them to neglect both God and their
responsibilities toward others. He says “they sell the righteous for silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals” (Amos 2:6), indicating that material
pursuits and lack of compassion crowd out both love for God and practical
justice toward others.
Amos 8:11-12 predicts a famine “not of food or water, but a
loss of hearing God’s voice,” reflecting the danger of being so distracted that
one can no longer perceive God at all.
In Amos 5:21–24, God declares:
21 I hate, I despise your festivals,
and I take no delight in your solemn
assemblies.
22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them,
and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
I will not look upon.
23 Take away from me the noise of your songs;
I will not listen to the melody of
your harps.
24 But let justice roll down like water
and righteousness like an
ever-flowing stream.
Amos 5:21–24 (NRSVue)
The people of Israel are experiencing a famine of God's word.
Holiness in a World of Distraction
Consider the distractions from the moment. Where are we
right now?
We are now in a moment of worship. We have gathered to
worship the Father who has lovingly designed us to be a people who are
eternally in his presence. We have gathered to worship the all-sufficient
Christ who redeems us and intercedes on our behalf. We have gathered to worship
the Holy Spirit who sustains us and equips us to live in the New Creation and
the realm of God in our midst.
When we leave this sanctuary we enter the world around us –
the world of discipleship.
Distractions dilute discipleship. Spiritual focus is not
just about avoiding worldly clutter—it’s about aligning our hearts with Jesus,
who calls us to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.” Matthew 6:33
Holiness is the life we are called to enjoy as we faithfully
bear fruit for God. Holiness is expressed in our love of God and our love of
neighbor.
Don't allow distractions to get in the way of holy moments.
Set your mind on the moment.
When in worship, let's worship God with our undivided
attention.
When we serve, let us focus on the person or purpose before us.
+ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
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