Late February brings the first whispers of spring approaching. With temperatures warming and ice beginning to melt, we feel a subtle shift in the air – a promise of renewal. Yet in this season of transition, many of us still carry winter’s restlessness. The novelty of New Year’s resolutions has worn off, and we might question if we’re doing enough or doing it right. The pressure to be productive, to keep up with everyone else’s pace, can leave us feeling like Martha – overwhelmed by expectations and responsibilities.
In this moment between seasons, our scripture breaks in with surprising grace. We meet women who found different ways to follow Jesus – some through active service, others through quiet learning, still others through generous support. Their stories remind us that even in Jesus’s time, people wrestled with questions about how best to respond to God’s call. Like us, they discovered that authentic faith doesn’t fit only one mold.
As we explore these encounters today, notice how Jesus makes room for each person’s unique expression of devotion. Their stories belong to a larger narrative about God’s expanding welcome, showing us that the path of discipleship has always been more diverse than we might imagine.
This February, we’re exploring how different people found their own paths to following Jesus. Each story shows us that faith doesn’t look the same for everyone. Last week, we met someone who encountered Jesus during a dinner party – a woman who others judged harshly, but who Jesus welcomed with grace. She showed her faith by pouring out expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet, expressing her love in a bold, personal way.
Today, we meet more women who followed Jesus, each in their own unique style. Some traveled with him and supported his ministry with their money and resources. Then there’s Martha, who expressed her faith through hospitality and service, and her sister Mary, who chose to sit and listen to Jesus’ teaching. These stories remind us that Jesus welcomes all kinds of people with all kinds of gifts. Whether serving actively like Martha, listening deeply like Mary, or supporting behind the scenes like the women who traveled with Jesus, each person’s way of following matters.
Luke wrote his gospel around the year 80 to 85, carefully researching stories about Jesus to help new believers understand their faith. He especially wanted to show how Jesus welcomed people that society often overlooked – including women, who had limited rights and opportunities in that time period.
The Roman Empire controlled the region, and Jewish society had strict rules about who could participate in religious life and how. Women weren’t usually taught by rabbis or allowed to travel independently. Most people expected women to focus on household duties and family care. So when Luke tells us about women traveling with Jesus and supporting his ministry with their own money, it was revolutionary. These women – including Joanna, whose husband worked for King Herod – were breaking cultural norms to follow Jesus.
The story of Mary and Martha adds another layer. Martha welcomes Jesus into their home, fulfilling the important cultural value of hospitality. But her sister Mary sits at Jesus’ feet – the traditional position of a student learning from a rabbi. When Martha complains about doing all the work alone, Jesus doesn’t send Mary back to help. Instead, he affirms her choice to learn, saying she has chosen “the better part.”
Luke connects these stories to show how Jesus created new possibilities for following God. Some women, like those mentioned in chapter 8, supported the mission through their resources. Martha expressed her faith through practical service. Mary chose the path of learning and contemplation. Each way was valid and valuable.
This matches what we see elsewhere in scripture – God works through different kinds of people and gifts. Like the body imagery Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 12, these stories show that the community of faith needs both active service and quiet reflection, both practical support and deep learning. The main message? Jesus welcomes everyone to follow him in ways that fit their unique gifts and calling.
These stories speak directly into our lives, where we often feel pressure to do things the “right” way. Consider someone wrestling with workplace culture, where productivity and constant activity are highly valued. Maybe they create space for mentoring younger colleagues or take time to really listen when a team member is struggling. Like Mary choosing to sit and learn, they might face criticism for not appearing “busy enough,” yet these quieter contributions often make the deepest impact.
Think about a healthcare worker who’s always caring for others. The relentless pace of giving can feel like Martha’s overwhelming experience. Jesus’s response offers permission to pause, to tend to your own spiritual and emotional well-being without guilt. Sometimes stepping back actually helps us serve better in the long run.
Or imagine someone who quietly supports important causes through their financial planning and giving. Like the women who traveled with Jesus, they may not be in the spotlight, but their behind-the-scenes contributions make vital work possible. Their practical support creates opportunities for others to serve and grow.
This week, try choosing one way to live more fully into your authentic path of following Jesus. Maybe that means having a real conversation with someone instead of rushing past. Perhaps it means finding ways to support good work happening in our community. Or it could mean giving yourself permission to learn and grow rather than always doing. Start small – maybe reaching out to someone who needs encouragement, or looking for one way your particular skills could help others.
The key isn’t copying someone else’s way of serving – it’s discovering how your unique gifts and circumstances can become part of God’s work in the world. Whether through active service, quiet presence, generous giving, or thoughtful learning, each person’s path matters. Jesus welcomes all these expressions of faith, inviting us to find our own authentic way of following. When we understand this, we’re freed from comparing ourselves to others or trying to meet everyone’s expectations. Instead, we can focus on growing into the particular way God has shaped us to serve and love.
The good news is that God’s transformative love creates space for everyone to participate in God’s mission. Through Jesus’s ministry, we see God deliberately expanding what it means to be a faithful follower. Cultural and religious barriers that kept women from learning, traveling, or contributing beyond traditional roles don’t reflect God’s heart. Instead, Jesus welcomed women to learn as disciples, honored their service, and received their support – showing us that God values each person’s unique way of responding to divine love.
This pattern echoes throughout scripture – from God choosing unlikely people as leaders, to the prophets announcing God’s concern for the overlooked, to Jesus consistently breaking social barriers that limited people’s access to God. The same Spirit that empowered these women to step into new roles continues to work today, inviting each person into fuller participation in God’s redemptive work.
Through Christ, we realize that God’s kingdom operates beyond human hierarchies and narrow definitions of service. Every response to God’s love matters. This isn’t just about different ways to serve – it reveals God’s vision for human flourishing, where every person discovers their own path of discipleship.
In this we glimpse God’s larger purpose: forming a community where God’s love breaks down barriers, transforms relationships, and empowers each person to contribute their unique gifts to God’s ongoing work of renewal in the world. This is what salvation looks like in action – not just souls being saved, but whole lives and communities being transformed by love that makes room for everyone.
Just as the melting snow reveals new possibilities beneath winter’s cover, God’s love creates space for every authentic expression of faith. Whether you’re drawn to active service like Martha, deep listening like Mary, or supporting from behind the scenes like Joanna, your way of following Jesus matters. The same Jesus who welcomed these women with their different gifts still invites us to discover our unique path of discipleship. Together, we’re learning there’s more than one way to follow faithfully.
Will you pray with me?
God, thank you for welcoming us with all our different ways of serving and loving. Help us recognize and honor the diverse gifts you’ve given, trusting that each path of faithful following matters. Amen.
In crafting today’s sermon, I employed AI assistants like Claude and Apple Intelligence, yet the ultimate responsibility for its content rests with me. These tools offered valuable perspectives, but the most influential sermon preparation hinges on biblical study, theological insight, personal reflection, and divine guidance. I see AI as a supportive aid to enrich the sermon process while ensuring my own voice in proclaiming the Word of God.
Rev. Andrew Conard 