Article January 7, 1980 Issue

The Mary life style

ELSIE STAHL ODERWALD

When Martha asked Jesus to bid her sister Mary to help serve, he rebuked Martha, not Mary. His rebuke, however, did not indicate that Martha was to stop the cooking and cleaning necessary to the running of the household. Rather, wasn't Jesus suggesting that she stop putting those obligations before that which is life itself: namely, the understanding of God and of man's relation to Him? The Master then gave this guideline for all time: "But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."^{Luke 10:42;}

How often do we find ourselves placing our love for God and our search for a deeper understanding of Him after home obligations, business and professional activities, social commitments, hobbies and sports? Yet Christ Jesus commanded, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."^{Matt. 6:33;} This has been proved over and over again and can be proved now. When we actively seek to know our Father-Mother God and to express our gratitude for His goodness and mercy, merely human busyness drops away like excess baggage, and the way of life that Mary chose becomes ours.

A deep desire to know and trust God is always answered—today as it was in the times of the Old Testament prophets and of Jesus—and the answer always comes in a form that meets the immediate need. Today we have the full message of the Bible and also Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy to direct us in our search. Prayerful study of them leads to the understanding of God's allness—His all-presence, all-power, all-knowledge—and we begin to see ourselves as the perfect reflection of God. Then the mortal, material concept of man and the universe is seen to be no one and nothing. Our thought and motives are gradually purified, and increasing harmony pervades our daily round.

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