A man schooled in rabbinic law challenged Jesus with a question: ‘‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’’ Jesus turned the question back on him by asking, “What does the law say?” The lawyer responded with the “summation” of the law: love God with all of your being, and your neighbor as yourself. The conversation then focused on the second part of the summation, with Jesus offering the famous Good Samaritan parable and the lawyer being directed to go and do likewise. Given the concentration of the exchange, the command to love one’s neighbor as oneself, some commentators consider the vignette that follows an effort by Luke to illustrate the first part of the summation (Luke 10:38-42). I think they may be right. Fulfillment of the second part, no matter how robust, does not negate the primacy of the first.
Martha was busy with preparations to the point of distraction. She had invited Jesus into her home, but the task of entertaining her guest had actually caused her to neglect him. She had to be reoriented to the “one necessary” thing, the “good portion” that her sister Mary had chosen. That can happen, can’t it? We can get so focused in doing good things for Jesus (and desiring that one’s guest be well-fed and comfortable is a good thing) to the point of being overwhelmed by the anxiety they produce. That’s when we need to sit down next to Mary and listen. Jesus is the one necessary thing. He is the good portion. Whatever we do in his name must be done for his name.
For many, however, the idea of the Good Samaritan exists with no apparent connection to Jesus. A man can do many good works, be lauded a 'Good Samaritan,' and yet not begin to scratch the surface of loving God with all of his being. What might Jesus say to such a one? “Only one thing is necessary. Sit and listen to my word. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him (10:22). Sit and listen. I am the one necessary thing.”
